Improved cw lasers in the 11–13-μm wavelength region produced by optically pumping NH_3

Abstract

An improved technique for creating gain in the ν2 band of NH3 by optically pumping mixtures of NH3 in N2 is described. Conventional (<10-W power) cw CO2 lasers were used to pump both 14NH3 and 15NH3. Lasing was obtained on more than thirty NH3 transitions in the 11–13-μm region, with a maximum output power of 1.2 W and conversion efficiencies as high as 17%. A simple rate equation model is used to explain the inversion mechanism.