US Patent 7773656 Molecular hydrogen laser

There is disclosed a laser comprising a laser medium comprising H2(1/p) where p is an integer and 1≦p≦137, a cavity comprising the laser medium, and a power source to form an inverted population in the energy level of H2(1/p). The power source may form excited vibration-rotational levels of H2(1/p) wherein lasing occurs with a stimulated transition from at least one vibration-rotational level to at least another lower-energy-level other than one with a significant Boltzmann population at the cell neutral-gas temperature, wherein the vibration-rotational levels of H2(1/p) comprise the inverted population.