A study of a high-power blue–greenXeF(C–A)laser photolytically pumped by an open discharge along a formed-ferrite surface is presented. A laser output energy of 1.3 J was extracted from a gas mixture of 4 TorrXeF2,230 TorrN2,and 680 Torr Kr, with a stable optical resonator. With a flat optical resonator, a laser output energy of 1 J was obtained. In this case, we observed an oscillating regime of the laser power, which indicates that the unsaturated gain value was close to the laser action threshold. Perspectives of optical pumping schemes are presented. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.