Skip to main content
Log in

Mid-infrared optically pumped molecular lasers

  • Laser
  • Published:
Hyperfine Interactions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Optically pumped molecular gas lasers have proved to be a convenient and versatile source of coherent mid-infrared (MIR) radiation. The present state of development and understanding of these lasers is reviewed in this article. Emphasis has been placed on recent results with a view to complement the earlier reviews of the field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Handbook of Laser Science and Technology, Vol. II:Gas Lasers, ed. M.J. Weber (CRC Press, Florida, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  2. J.A. Horsley, P. Rabinowitz, A. Stein, D.M. Cox, R.O. Brickman and A. Kaldor, IEEE J. Quantum Electron QE-16 (1980) 413, and references therein.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. G. Koren, Y. Gertner and U. Shreter, Appl. Phys. Lett. 41 (1982) 397, and references therein.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. V.G. Averin, M. Akhrarov, G.S. Baronov, B.I. Vasil'ev, A.Z. Grasyuk, M.G. Morozov, E.P. Skvortsova and A.B. Yastrebkov, Sov. J. Quantum Electron. 13 (1983) 189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. R.V. Ambartsumian, Z.A. Grasiuk, A.P. Dyadkin, N.P. Furzikov, V.S. Letokhov and B.I. Vasil'ev, Appl. Phys. 15 (1978) 27.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. J.J. Tiee and C. Wittig, Appl. Phys. Lett. 32 (1978) 236.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. F. Magnotta and I.P. Hermann, J. Chem. Phys. 81 (1984) 2363.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. C. Rolland, B.K. Garside and J. Reid, Appl. Phys. Lett. 40 (1982) 655.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. J. Telle, IEEE J. Qunatum Electron. QE-19 (1983) 1469.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. C. Rolland, J. Reid and B.K. Garside, Appl. Phys. Lett. 44 (1984) 380.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. C. Rolland, J. Reid and B.K. Garside, Appl. Phys. Lett. 44 (1984) 725.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. G. Magrel, W. Schupita and E. Bonck, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-18 (1982) 1214.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. C.O. Weiss and J. Brock, Phys. Rev. Lett. 57 (1986) 2804.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. T.Y. Chang, in:Non-linear Infrared Generation, ed. Y.R. Shen (Springer-Verlag, Berlin and New York, 1977) 215.

    Google Scholar 

  15. C.R. Jones, Laser Focus 14 (1978) 68.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. A.Z. Grasiuk, V.S. Letokhov and V.V. Lobko, Prog. Quant. Electr. 6 (1980) 245.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. R.G. Harrison and P.K. Gupta, in:Infrared and Millimer Waves, Ed. K.J. Button, Vol. 7 (Academic Press, New York, 1983) 43.

    Google Scholar 

  18. T.Y. Chang, in:Lasers Physics, Systems and Techniques, eds. W.J. Firth and R.G. Harrison (Redwood Burn Ltd., Wiltshire, 1983) 383.

    Google Scholar 

  19. H.N. Rutt, in:Quantum Electronics and Electro-Optics, ed. P.L. Knight (Wiley, Chichester, 1983) 235.

    Google Scholar 

  20. L.Y. Nelson, M.I. Buchwald and C.R. Jones, Appl. Phys. Lett. 37 (1980) 765.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. K.C. Hawkins, R. Peacock and H.N. Rutt, J. Phys. D. Appl. Phys. 18 (1985) 191.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. F. Julien, P. Wazen, J.M. Lourtioz, T.A. DeTemple and S.J. Petuchowski, Opt. Commun. 54 (1985) 246.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. M. Bernardini, M. Giorgi, A. Palucci, S. Ribezzo and S. Marchetti, Opt. Commun. 57 (1986) 435.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. N. Skribanowitz, I.P. Hermann and M.S. Feld, Appl. Phys. Lett. 21 (1972) 466.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. T.Y. Chang and J.D. McGee, Appl. Phys. Lett. 29 (1976) 725.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. H.N. Rutt, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Phys. 16 (1983) 3667.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. G. Herzberg, in:Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure, Vol. 2:Infrared and Raman Spectra of Polyatomic Molecules (Van Nostrand, New York, 1945).

    Google Scholar 

  28. T.Y. Chang and O.R. Wood II, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-13 (1977) 907.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. H.R. Schlossberg and H.R. Fetterman, Appl. Phys. Lett. 26 (1975) 316.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. J.M. Green, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 12 (1979) 489.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. V.Y. Baranov, S.A. Kazakov, V.S. Mezhevov, A.N. Napartovich, M.Y. Orlov V.D. Pismennyi, A.I. Starodubtsev and A.N. Startostin, Sov. J. Quantum. Electron. 10 (1980) 47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. A. Stein, P. Rabinowitz and A. Kaldor, Opt. Lett. 3 (1978) 97.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. P.K. Gupta, S. Sinha, V.P. Singhal, N.S. Shikarkhane, S. Sasikumar, U. Nundy and U.K. Chatterjee, Proc. of Fourth Quantum Electronics Symposium, Cochin (1986) 13.

  34. A.P. Babichev, V.Yu. Baranov, G.S. Baranov, E.M. Voinov, S.A. Kazakov, A.I. Karchevskii, V.S. Mezhevov, V.D. Pismenny and A.I. Starodubtsev, Sov. J. Quantum Electron 11 (1981) 141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. J.J. Tiee and C. Wittig, Appl. Phys. Lett. 30 (1977) 420.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. J.J. Tiee and C. Wittig, J. Appl. Phys. 49 (1978) 61.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. H.N. Rutt, Topical meeting on Infrared Lasers, Los Angeles (1980), Paper Th 11-1.

  38. H.N. Rutt, Opt. Commun. 34 (1980) 434.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. T.A. Fischer, J.J. Tiee and C. Wittig, Appl. Phys. Lett. 37 (1980) 592.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. T.A. Fischer and C. Wittig, Appl. Phys. Lett. 39 (1981) 6.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. W.E. Barch, H.R. Fetterman and H.R. Schlossberg, Opt. Commun. 15 (1975) 358.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. J. Eggleston, J. Dallarosa, W.K. Bischel, J. Bokor and C.K. Rhodes, J. Appl. Phys. 50 (1979) 3867.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. D. Prosnitz, R.R. Jacobs, W.K. Bischel and C.K. Rhodes, Appl. Phys. Lett. 32 (1978) 221.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. V.I. Balykin, A.L. Golger, Yu.R. Kolomiiski, V.S. Letokhov and O.A. Tumanov, Sov. J. Quantum Electron. 4 (1975) 1325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. B.I. Vasil'ev, A.Z. Grasyuk, A.P. Dyad'kin, A.N. Sukhanov and A.B. Yastrebkov, Sov J. Quantum Electron. 10 (1980) 64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. P.K. Gupta, A.K. Kar, M.R. Taghizadeh and R.G. Harrison, Appl. Phys. Lett. 39 (1981) 32.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. E.D. Shaw and C.K.N. Patel, Opt. Commun. 27 (1978) 419.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. H. Tashiro, K. Suzuki, K. Toyoda and S. Namba, Appl. Phys. 21 (1980) 237.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. V.Y. Baranov, S.A. Kazakov, V.D. Pis'menny, A.I. Starodubtsev, E.P. Velikhov, Y.A. Gorokhov, V.S. Letokhov, A.P. Dyad'kin, A.Z. Grasyuk and B.I. Vasil'ev, Appl. Phys. 17 (1978) 317.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  50. H.N. Rutt, Infrared Phys. 24 (1984) 535.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. H.N. Rutt and K.C. Hawkins, Infrared Phys. 25 (1985) 563.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. J.M. Green and H.N. Rutt, in:Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. on Infrared Physics, Zurich, March 5 to 9 (1979) 205.

  53. S.S. Alimpiev, G.S. Baronov, N.V. Karlov, A.I. Karchevskii, V.L. Martsynk'yan, Sh.Sh. Nabiev, B.G. Sartakov and E.M. Khokhlov, Sov. J. Quantum Electron. 9 (1979) 329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. R. Eckhardt, J. Telle and L. Haynes, J. Opt. Soc. Am. 72 (1982) 40.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. T.A. Znotnis, J. Reid, B.K. Garside and E.A. Ballick, Opt. Lett. 5 (1980) 528.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  56. See for ex.: B.K. Deka, P.E. Dyer and R.J. Winfield, Optics Commun. 33 (1980) 206; and also Optics Lett. 5 (1980) 194.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  57. A. Gondhalekar, N.R. Heckenberg and E. Holzhauer, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-11 (1975) 103.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  58. S.L. Chin, Opt. Laser Technol. 12 (1980) 85.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  59. P.V. Gatenby, K.C. Hawkins and H.N. Rutt, J. Phys. E: Sci. Instrum. 14 (1981) 56.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  60. F. Bonanni, S. Ciferri and G. Salvetti, Opt. Quantum Electron. 14 (1982) 237.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  61. G. Scott and A.L.S. Smith, Appl. Phys. B33 (1984) 99.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  62. S. Sinha and P.K. Gupta, Appl. Phys. Lett. 49 (1986) 1331.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  63. T. Stamatakis and J.M. Green, Opt. Commun. 30 (1979) 413.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  64. M. Cavaioli and G. Salvetti, Opt. Commun. 42 (1982) 431.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  65. D.F. Kroeker, J. Reid, B.K. Garside and C. Rolland, Opt. Lett. 11 (1986) 300.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  66. T. Stamatakis, D.A. AldCroft and J.M. Green, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Phys. 15 (1982) 3639.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  67. M.A. Gunderson and T.A. Yocom, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-18 (1982) 1237.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  68. P.F. Gascoyne and H.N. Rutt, J. Phys. E: Sci. Instrum. 16 (1983) 31.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  69. P.F. Gascoyne, K.C. Hawkins and H.N. Rutt, J. Phys. E: Sci. Instrum. 18 (1985) 129.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  70. H.N. Rutt, J. Phys. E: Sci. Instrum. 17 (1984) 704.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  71. C.R. Jones, J.M. Telle and M.I. Buchwald,Proc. Tenth Intern. Quantum Electron. Conf., Atlanta, 1978 (Optical Society of America, Washington, D.C.) paper K7.

  72. T.Y. Chang and J.D. McGee, Appl. Phys. Lett. 28 (1976) 526.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  73. P.K. Gupta and K.C. Rustagi,Proc. of the Nucl. Phys. and Solid State Phys. Symp., Pune, 20C (1977) 648.

    Google Scholar 

  74. R.G. Harrison, R.A. Wood and S.R. Butcher, Opt. Commun. 27 (1978) 157.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  75. P.K. Gupta, J. Phys. D; Appl. Phys. 11 (1978) L171.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  76. P.K. Gupta and K.C. Rustagi, Indian J. Phys. 54B (1980) 95.

    Google Scholar 

  77. R.G. Harrison, P.K. Gupta, M.R. Taghizadeh and A.K. Kar, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-18 (1982) 1239.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  78. C.K.N. Patel, T.Y. Chang and V.T. Nguyen, Appl. Phys. Lett. 28 (1976) 603.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  79. R.G. Harrison and F.A. Al-Watban, Opt. Commun. 20 (1977) 225.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  80. B. Walker, G.W. Chantry and D.G. Moss, Opt. Commun. 23 (1977) 8.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  81. R.G. Harrison, P.K. Gupta, A.K. Kar and M.R. Taghizadeh, Opt. Commun. 34 (1980) 445.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  82. F.A. Al-Watban, R.G. Harrison, J.G. Crowder and C.R. Pidgeon, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 10 (1977) L167.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  83. P.K. Gupta, (1981), Ph.D. Thesis, Heriot-Watt Univ., Endinburgh.

  84. P.K. Gupta and R.G. Harrison, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-17 (1981) 2238.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  85. H.D. Morrison, B.K. Garside and J. Reid, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-20 (1984) 1060; and references therein.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  86. H.D. Morrison, B.K. Garside and J. Reid, Opt. Lett. 7 (1982) 520.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  87. S.M. Fry, Opt. Commun. 19 (1976) 320.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  88. H.D. Morrison, B.K. Garside and J. Reid, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-20 (1984) 1051.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  89. C. Rolland, J. Reid, B.K. Garside, H.D. Morrison and P.E. Jescop, Appl. Optics 23 (1984) 87.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  90. C. Rolland, B.K. Garside and J. Reid, Appl. Optics 24 (1985) 13.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  91. Yu. A. Gorokhov, S.V. Efimovskii, I.N. Knyazev and V.V. Lobko, Sov. J. QuantumElectron. 9 (1979) 1402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  92. C.W. Patterson, R.S. McDowell, N.G. Nereson, R.F. Begley, H.W. Galbraith and B.J. Krohn, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 80 (1980) 71.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  93. R.S. McDowell, C.W. Patterson, C.R. Jones, M.I. Buchwald and J.M. Telle, Opt. Lett. 4 (1979) 274.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  94. C.W. Patterson, R.S. McDowell and N.G. Nereson, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-16 (1980) 1164.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  95. R.S. McDowell, M.J. Reisfeld, H.W. Galbraith, B.J. Krohn, H. Flocker, J.P. Aldridge and R.C. Kennedy, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 83 (1980) 440.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  96. I.N. Knyazev, V.S. Letokhov and V.V. Lobko, Opt. Commun. 29 (1979) 73.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  97. J.J. Tiee, T.A. Fischer and C. Wittig, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 50 (1979) 958.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  98. F. Bonanni, S. Castiglione and G. Salvetti, IL Nuovo Cimento 66B (1981) 129.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  99. R.C. Eckhardt, R. Hinsley, M. Piltch and S. Rockwood, Opt. Lett. 4 (1979) 112.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  100. H. Tashiro, H. Souma, K. Toyoda and S. Namba, Appl. Phys. B 34 (1984) 37.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  101. A.L. Golger and V.S. Letokhov, Sov. J. Quantum Electron. 3 (1973) 15; 3 (1973) 428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  102. E. Armandillo and J.M. Green, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 11 (1978) 421.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  103. R.L. Sinclair, J. Reid, H.D. Morrison, B.K. Garside and C. Rolland, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2 (1985) 800.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  104. H.D. Morrison, B.K. Garside and J. Reid, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2 (1985) 535.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  105. C. Rolland, J. Reid, B.K. Garside, P.E. Jessop and H.D. Morrison, Opt. Lett. 8 (1983) 36.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  106. A. Javan, Phys. Rev. 107 (1957) 1579.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  107. R.L. Panock and R.J. Temkin, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-13 (1977) 425.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  108. D. Seligson, M. Ducloy, J.R.R. Leite, A. Sanchez and M.S. Feld, IEEE J. Quantum electron. QE-13 (1977) 408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  109. J. Heppner, C.O. Weiss, V. Hubner and G. Schinn, IEEE J. Quantum Electron, QE-16 (1980) 392.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  110. M.A. Dupertuis and M.R. Siegrist, Phys. Rev. A, 30 (1984) 2824.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  111. F. Julien, P. Wazen, J.M. Lourtioz and T.A. DeTemple, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-19 (1983) 1654.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  112. B.G. Danly and R.J. Temkin, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-16 (1980) 587.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  113. A. Vass, B. Davies, W.J. Firth and C.R. Pidgeon, Appl. Phys. B 29 (1982) 131.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  114. S.C. Mehendale, R.G. Harrison and A. Vass, Appl. Phys. Lett. 48 (1986) 894.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  115. S.C. Mehendale and R.G. Harrison, Phys. Rev. A, 34 (1986) 1613.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  116. S.C. Mehendale and R.G. Harrison, Optics. Commun. 60 (1986) 257.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gupta, P.K., Mehendale, S.C. Mid-infrared optically pumped molecular lasers. Hyperfine Interact 37, 243–273 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02395713

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02395713

Keywords

Navigation