Abstract

The design and spectroscopic application of a submillimeter–far-infrared (FIR) optically pumped tunable laser are described. Driven by 15–25 W of power from a cw CO₂ laser, the FIR system gave milliwatts of power between 96 and 1217 μm. The pumped media were methyl alcohol (CH₃OH) and 1,1-difluoroethylene (CH₂CF₂). The laser spectrometer was used to measure the transmission of liquid H₂O, the bulk semiconductor GaAs, the epitaxial semiconductor InAs, and the high-temperature superconductor V₃Si. In general, the laser system gave vastly improved signal-to-noise ratios, reduced stray light problems, and increased penetration power relative to more conventional FIR spectrometers. The laser results agreed extremely well with results from conventional spectrometers except where the narrowness of the laser line produced interference effects.

© 1977 Optical Society of America

Complete frequency coverage for submillimeter laser spectroscopy with optically pumped CH₃OH, CH₃OD, CD₃OD, and CH₂CF₂

B. L. Bean and S. Perkowitz
Opt. Lett. 1(6) 202-204 (1977)

Far-infrared studies in epitaxial films of III–V and IV–VI semiconductors*

P. M. Amirtharaj, B. L. Bean, and S. Perkowitz
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(7) 939-942 (1977)

Far infrared optical constants of liquid water measured with an optically pumped laser

O. A. Simpson, B. L. Bean, and S. Perkowitz
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 69(12) 1723-1726 (1979)

Submillimeter wave spectroscopy of the atmosphere

J. E. Harries
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(7) 880-893 (1977)

Waveguides for submillimeter-wave lasers

F. K. Kneubühl
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(7) 959-963 (1977)