Efficient nonresonant transformation of Lyman-. cap alpha. radiation

Conditions are considered for maximum generation power at the Lyman-..cap alpha.. wavelength of hydrogen (121.6 nm). The conversion efficiency is limited principally by the Kerr effect. Calculations of the conversion factor K as a function of the power and the pressure of the mixture give results in qualitative agreement with experiment and show that K cannot exceed 10/sup -4/ for a krypton--argon mixture.