A submillimeter CH3OH laser with a high-power optical pumping: new emission lines

Five new emission lines in the wavelength range of 70 – 140 μm are obtained from a CH₃OH submillimeter laser pumped by high-power periodic (500 Hz) quasi-stationary 70-μs pulses from a CO₂ laser. The wavelengths (with an error of 0.5 %), the threshold pump powers, and the optimal pressure are measured. It is shown that no saturation is present at pump powers of 1000 – 3000 W.