Spectroscopy of Methanol and Its Application to Optically Pumped THz FIR Lasers

In this paper, we have reviewed the details of experimental and theoretical aspects of the high-resolution molecular spectroscopy of methanol isotopomers. The methods of spectroscopic assignments and analysis have been discussed. The applications of the spectroscopic techniques, particularly of Fourier transform spectroscopy in the field of optically pumped Terra-Hertz Lasers (OPTL) and far infrared (OPFIR) lasers have been discussed. New assignments have been deduced for TEA-CO₂ laser pumped methanol and CW CO₂ pumped ¹³CD₃OD. Stark effect analyses and the determination of accurate dipole moment values have been discussed for CH₃OH, ¹³CH₃OH and CH₃¹⁸0H. The importance of high-resolution spectroscopy is also discussed in terms of astrophysical detection. Some recent ongoing astrophysical efforts are outlined. In our laboratory we are in the process of setting up a THz methanol laser for astrophysical applications and search for new coherent monochromatic laser sources.