16 μm emission from a chemical hydrogen fluoride TE laser

A number of emission lines within the wavelength range from 12.7 to 17 μm originating from pure rotational transitions in hydrogen fluoride have been observed in a chemical HF-TE laser. The operational conditions have been optimized for the 16.02 μm line which is due to the rotational J(16→15) transition in the vibrational ground state of the HF molecules. This line is in the near vicinity of the v₃ UF₆ absorption band.