H2O, NO, and N2O infrared lasers pumped directly and indirectly by electronic-vibrational energy transfer

Abstract

Pulsed infrared molecular lasers are reported in which pumping is via electronic-vibrational energy transfer from Br(42P1/2). H2O and NO lasers are pumped directly by E-V transfer and operate on a variety of transitions not previosuly seen in stimulated emission. The N2O laser operates near 10.9 μm and is pumped by a two-step process involving E-V transfer to an intermediate molecule and subsequent V-V transfer from that molecule to N2O. This latter technique extends the applicability of E-V pumping to molecules which do not interact directly with the electronically excited species.