Abstract

A theoretical and experimental investigation was performed on a scanning spherical mirror interferometer designed for the spectral analysis of CO₂ laser radiation. It is shown that this instrument can be applied to study laser modes and also to measure with high precision the wavenumber difference of two lines spaced several reciprocal centimeters apart. As calculated and observed, the error in determining wavenumber differences for the instrument used is below about ±0.05 cm⁻¹ and it is shown that a much more accurate instrument can be constructed. An attempt to use a mode-degenerate (confocal) resonator with central coupling holes was unsuccessful.

© 1970 Optical Society of America

A Scanning Spherical Mirror Interferometer for Spectral Analysis of Laser Radiation

R. L. Fork, D. R. Herriott, and H. Kogelnik
Appl. Opt. 3(12) 1471-1484 (1964)

A Ray Analysis of Optical Resonators Formed by Two Spherical Mirrors

I. A. Ramsay and J. J. Degnan
Appl. Opt. 9(2) 385-398 (1970)

The Lensing Effect of CO₂ Laser Plasma

H. K. V. Lotsch and W. C. Davis
Appl. Opt. 9(12) 2725-2728 (1970)

Infrared Interferometry with a CO₂ Laser Source and Liquid Crystal Detection

F. Keilmann
Appl. Opt. 9(6) 1319-1322 (1970)

The Spherical Mirror Fabry-Perot Interferometer

Michael Hercher
Appl. Opt. 7(5) 951-966 (1968)