Self focussing of CO2 laser radiation in NH3 gas

Self focussing of CO₂ laser radiation in ammonia gas is reported for a number of laser emissions in near coincidence with NH₃ absorption lines. Detailed results for the aR(11) NH₃ transition are in excellent accord with theory accounting for intensity dependent saturation of both absorption and the associated anomalous dispersion responsible for nonlinear refraction n₂, giving a value for n₂ of 2.375 x 10^-11 esu torr^-1.