Submillimeter Emission from Optically Pumped ¹⁴NH₃

Abstract

A CO2 TEA laser was used for optical pumping of 14NH3. Thirteen CO2 lines, which deviate by 0.05 cm-1 or less from transitions in 14NH3, were effective in producing submillimeter laser transitions. Most of the 24 emitted lines have wavelengths between 70 and 400 μm and represent rotation-inversion transitions in the ν2 state of NH3. A few short wavelength lines (30-70 μm) are 2ν2 transitions obtained by pumping from the ν2 state.