IR absorption measurements and new FIR emission lines in CH3OH by use of a frequency-tunable CW waveguide CO2 laser

The IR absorption in CH₃OH in the vicinity of CO₂ laser lines has been measured quantitatively by use of a 300 MHz tunable waveguide CO₂ laser with output powers of about 3 W. Information on frequency offsets from the CO₂ line centers, small signal and saturated absorption coefficients of FIR laser pump transitions is obtained. Some stronger pump transitions with frequency offsets larger than 50 MHz gave rise to the observation of 8 new FIR emission lines with wavelengths from 43 to 125 μm.