Laser emission measurements are reported for thee‐beam excited, near‐atmospheric‐pressure xenon excimer laser. The laser efficiency was limited to the order of 0.1% by the termination of the stimulated emission well before the end of thee‐beam pulse. The premature turnoff was observed under all operating conditions and was not predicted by a modelling code using the same kinetic processes which accurately described fluorescence frome‐beam excited xenon. Broad band transient absorption by the gas medium duringe‐beam excitation was measured. The magnitude of the absorption was less than that predicted for photoionization of the excimers and hence, did not appear large enough to account for the premature turnoff. Temperature increases in mirror coatings due to absorption of the laser radiation and the resulting decrease in mirror reflectivities may account for the observed laser pulse termination.