Applications of high resolution spectroscopy to the identification of far-infrared laser emission from optically pumped13CH3OH

High-resolution infrared (IR) and far infrared (FIR) Fourier transform absorption spectra have been employed to investigate assignments of FIR laser lines reported from optically-pumped¹³CH₃OH. The spectroscopic measurements are used in conjunction with the reported IR pump and FIR laser frequencies to form closed combination loops for several systems, serving to confirm the assignments and in some cases to improve the accuracy of the FIR laser frequencies. Frequency predictions from combination differences are also presented for a number of potential new FIR laser lines.     

New FIR laser lines from an optically pumped far-infrared laser with isotopic 13C16O2 pumping

A ¹³C¹⁶O₂ laser optically pumping a FIR laser has resulted in 17 new FIR cw emissions from 78.5 μm to 917 μm. The FIR media were: CD₃OD, CH₃OD, CD₃OH, NH₃ and ¹⁵NH₃. Interesting effects have been observed with a combination of NH₃ and CD₃OD resulting in a new FIR emission. Two new FIR emissions at 181.5 μm and 355.5 μm have been observed with a ¹²C¹⁶O₂ laser optically pumping CD₃OD.     

Far infrared laser lines and assignments of CH3OH: a review

Methyl alcohol is the most important lasing molecule in the Far-Infrared (FIR) spectral region, and the most widely used for investigation and for applications. Since the last critical review of 1984, over seventy papers have been published dealing with the FIR laser lines and the infrared spectroscopy of CH₃OH. In 1984 we could list about 330 FIR laser lines, 98 of which were measured in frequency and 105 assigned. Since then more than 70 papers were published increasing the number of the known laser lines to 575 (103 measured in frequency). Also the FIR and IR spectroscopy was largely improved thanks to the analysis of high resolution FT spectra, and the number of the correctly assigned laser lines has been increased to 224. The wavenumbers of the assigned lines can now be predicted with an accuracy of about 0.001 cm^–1 or better, thus approaching the accuracy of the experimental frequency measurements.     

13CH3OH and13CD3OH optically pumped fir laser: New large offset emission and optoacoustic spectroscopy

27 new, large offset, FIR laser lines from¹³CH₃OH and one from¹³CD₃OH have been discovered by pumping with a high tunability waveguide CW CO₂ laser. Optoacoustic measurements of isotopic methyl alcohol have also been performed and the pump offsets of the new and of previously known lines have been measured and checked. Frequency tunability by Stark effect has been observed for 6 strong lines. Some assignments are discussed.     

Far-Infrared Laser Assignments for Methylamine

Reported far-infrared laser lines for five different transition systems of CH₃NH₂ optically pumped by a CO₂ laser have been identified spectroscopically through a high-resolution Fourier transform infrared study of the C-N stretching band together with CO₂-laser/microwave-sideband broad-scan and Lamb-dip measurements. From the infrared analysis plus previous far-infrared (FIR) results for the ground vibrational state, quantum numbers have been assigned for seven methylamine FIR laser transitions and their C-N stretching pump absorptions coincident with the CO₂ laser lines. The assignments are confirmed through the use of closed frequency combination loops that also provide improved FIR laser frequencies to spectroscopic accuracy.     

Optically pumped submillimeter laser lines from CH2F2 and CD2Cl2 using a12C18O2 CW laser

Thirty-nine new submillimetre laser lines in CH₂F₂ and twelve in CD₂Cl₂ have been obtained in a Fabry-Perot FIR resonator by optically pumping with a CW¹²C¹⁸O₂ laser. The wavelength range obtained for CH₂F₂ is 126m to 1091m and for CD₂Cl₂ 212m to 774m. The wavelength measurements are accurate to within 5.10^–3. The relative polarisations of the pump laser and the FIR laser output were also determined. Tentative assignments of the IR and FIR transitions were made using existing microwave data.     

IR and FIR Spectroscopy of 13CH3I

We have investigated the ¹³CH₃I isotopomer of methyl iodide as a source of Far Infrared (FIR) laser radiation using the optical pumping technique. The molecule is pumped by using a pulsed waveguided CO₂ laser, driven by a novel all solid state power supply that lases on the 10HP band as well as the regular bands. We discovered and assigned two new FIR laser emissions and we give further spectroscopic information about polarization and pump frequency offset for five already known lines.     

Further new CW FIR lasting investigations in CH3I,13CH3I and CD3I: New lines and assignments

Forty seven new CW FIR emissions lines have been observed in CH₃I,¹³CH₃I and CD₃I, optically pumped by a CO₂ laser and a N₂ laser, in a metallic waveguide resonator. Assignments are given for a large number of these new lines.     

13CH3F and12CH3 mixture FIR Raman lasar

Experimental results of the investigation of¹³CH₃F and¹²CH₃F isotopic mixture as an active medium of optically pumped FIR laser are presented. The experimental data of the output FIR and MIR radiation are given.     

Assignments of optically pumped CD3OH laser lines

Six FIR laser lines from CD₃OH pumped by the 10R(36) and the 10R(18) CO₂ laser lines are assigned to specific rotational energy levels in the excited C–0 stretch state. It is found that their upper laser levels are shifted by a Fermi resonance between the C–0 stretch vibration and the third and forth harmonics of the torsional mode. The Fermi resonance shifts are +0.332 cm^–1 and +2.251 cm^–1 for the upper laser levels pumped by the 10R(36) and the 10R(18) CO₂ laser lines, respectively. Calculated frequencies of the pump and the laser transitions agree with those of the pump CO₂ laser lines and the observed FIR laser lines within estimated accuracy.     

13CD3OH and12CD3OH optically pumped by a13CO2 laser: Observations and assignments of FIR laser lines

In this work we report the first observation of FIR laser lines from¹³CD₃OH pumped by the¹³CO₂ isotope laser. Using the same pump we have also found 3 new lines from¹²CD₃OH. Tentative assignments for the absorption and emission transitions of the observed lines are also proposed.Work supported by FAPESP. CNPq, FAEP/UNICAMP-Brasil and NSF-USA     

Frequencies of cw FIR laser lines from optically pumped CH2F2

The frequencies of 48 optically pumped cw FIR CH₂F₂ laser lines have been measured relative to stabilized CO₂ lasers. Uncertainties are estimated to be about 5 parts in 10⁷.     

New fir laser lines and frequency measurements from optically pumped13CD3OH3

We report the discovery of 57 new fir laser lines from¹³CD₃OH molecule optically pumped by a waveguide CO₂ laser of 300 MHz tunability. For all lines, precise frequency offset measurements between the CO₂ line center and the center of the absorbing¹³CD₃OH line were performed using the transferred Lamb-Dip technique. We have also measured directly the frequency of seven FIR laser lines by heterodyning with already known laser lines. We present a complete list of all known laser lines (134) and frequency measurements (24) for this molecule.Work supported by CNPq, FAPESP, FAEP-Brasil, and CNR-Italia     

Submillimeter laser action of CW optically pumped CF2Cl2 (Fluorocarbon 12)

Eleven new CW far infrared (FIR) laser lines have been observed in the 600 m–1200 m range from the CF₂Cl₂ (Fluorocarbon 12) molecule optically pumped by a CO₂ laser. A 510^–4–10^–3 accuracy is achieved in the measurement of the FIR wavelengths.The frequency offset between the CO₂ pump center and the absorption line centers are measured using the transferred Lamb dip technique. Owing to a recent spectroscopic study of the CF₂ ³⁵Cl₂ molecule three lines may be assigned with great confidence as rotational transitions in thev ₆ vibrational band 923 cm^–1 of this main isotope.     

New far infrared laser lines in optically pumped CD3F

Summary Using a high pressure CO₂-laser we have studied laser action in¹²CD₃F stimulated by R-branch pumping. We used an arrangement with low-feedback mirrors as suitable for Raman laser action. However, no Raman laser action has been observed in¹²CD₃F though similar experimental conditions were met as for¹²CH₃F and¹³CH₃F. The reason for the different behavior of the gases is not yet clear.Instead of Raman laser action we found 15 FIR resonant laser lines with 13 of them unknown up to now in the frequency range from 50 cm^–1 to 68 cm^–1. We reached FIR pulse energies up to 900 J, corresponding to a photon conversion efficiency of 12%. For our arrangement the optimum operation pressure varied from 40 torr at low J values (J=36) to 70 torr at high J values (J=49).     

Infrared and far-infrared laser emissions from a TE CO2 laser pumped NH3 gas

In this paper, infrared (IR) and far-infrared (FIR) laser emissions from a TE CO₂ laser pumped NH₃ gas are reported. 8 IR laser emissions near the wavelength of 12 μm were observed by using 4 different CO₂ laser lines for the pumping. 3 IR laser emissions in P-branch of vibrational-rotational band (ν₂ → G) oscillated simultaneously in two pumping cases, i.e. pumping with the R(30) or R(16) line of 9.4 μm band from the CO₂ laser. 26 FIR laser emissions (26.45 μm ～ 281.0 μm) were observed by using 12 different CO₂ laser lines, and the 10 FIR emissions of them may be new laser emissions as far as we know.     

High resolution infrared spectrum of the CD2 wagging band of methanol-D2 (CHD2OH) for the lowest lying torsional vibrational state (e0)

This paper reports the analysis of the high resolution (0.0019 cm⁻¹) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum for asymmetrically deuterated methanol CHD₂OH (methanol-D₂) at a low temperature for the CD₂ wagging band for the lowest lying trans-species (e₀). In spite of the complexity and perturbation in the spectra, assignments were possible for the CD₂ wagging band for a maximum K value of 10. In total, about 500 spectral lines have been assigned. Analysis of the spectral lines has been performed in terms of state dependent molecular parameters, Q-branch origins and asymmetry splitting. Assignments have been thoroughly confirmed using combination relations (see text). The catalogue of the assigned transition wavenumbers will help identification and prediction of far infrared (FIR) optically pumped CO₂ lasers. The absorption lines close to the several 10R and 10P CO₂ laser lines have also been identified. These should help experimentalists to optimize the power of the emission FIR laser lines and to predict new lines and should prove valuable as a laboratory support for interstellar detection in “Radio Astronomy”. To our knowledge this is the first time such vibrational infrared (IR) high resolution study in CHD₂OH is being performed.     

Tuning characteristics of a high pressure CO2 laser pumped CH3F Raman laser

Conclusion We described a CH₃F Raman laser pumped by a two stage 20 atmospheres CO₂ laser. The emission spectrum of the CH₃F laser at 11 Torr extends from 23 cm^–1 to 45 cm^–1 when the CO₂ laser is scanned over the 9R emission branch at a fixed pump power of 180 mJ. The emission spectrum shows a strong structure with large parts where the FIR energy decreases to zero. This fact makes the use of such a laser for spectroscopic scanning experiments in the FIR difficult. The laser is, however, very suited for working at fixed but adjustable FIR frequencies. The pulse energy in the maxima of the emission characteristics at a pump energy of 180 mJ exceeds 300 J, which corresponds a photon conversion coefficient of more than 6%.     

Acoustooptic extension of the frequency tunability of CW CO2 lasers: New FIR lasers emissions from CH3OH and13CH3OH

We have increased the frequency tunability of our CW waveguide CO₂ lasers by means of an acoustooptic amplitude modulator, operating at the fixed frequency of 90 MHz. The up-shifted, or down-shifted, laser optical sideband can be generated independently by adjusting the orientation of the modulator. The efficiency is larger than 50%. The frequency tunability of the CO₂ laser around each laser line is thus increased by 180 MHz. To demonstrate the possibilities of this method, a source composed of the above modulator and of a CW, 300 MHz tunable waveguide CO₂ laser has been used for the search of new large offset FIR laser lines from optically pumped CH₃OH and¹³CH₃OH molecules. As a result 15 and 10 new large offset laser lines were discovered respectively. New assignments of some laser lines are also proposed. We have also measured the Stark effect, the offset, and the polarization of other already known lines. In particular a Stark effect frequency tuning of about 1 GHz is demonstrated for a laser line at 208.399 m.