Continuously tunable Raman NH3 laser pumped by the 9R(16) CO2 laser line

The first direct experimental proof was obtained that stimulated Raman scattering is the operating mechanism of an NH₃ laser (12.8μ) pumped by the 9R (16) (9.3μ) CO₂ laser line. A continuous variation of the pump laser frequency in an interval of ~0.1 cm^–1 led to a synchronized continuous change in the laser output frequency in the same interval. The tuning characteristics of the Raman NH₃ laser output frequency were determined by varying the pump frequency in a wide range of ammonia operating pressures (1–15 Torr) and of pump intensities (1–10 MW/cm²). The lasing efficiency was investigated as a function of the NH₃ pressure and of the detuning of the pump frequency. The influence of the dynamic Stark effect on the output frequency of the Raman NH₃ laser was estimated experimentally.