Dynamics and tunability of a small optically pumped cw far-infrared laser

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Abstract
We report the development of an ultrasmall, optically pumped cw far-infrared (FIR) laser that provides substantial tunability. This laser operates at pressures significantly higher than the maximum allowed by currently accepted theory. We also report the development of a new theoretical model for diffusion limited optically pumped FIR lasers which accounts for this behavior. It is shown that the consideration of additional higher energy vibrational states, along with appropriate energy transfer mechanisms, fundamentally alters the behavior of the system in the high pressure, high pump intensity regime. Although 13CH3F is used for both the experimental demonstration and the theoretical model, the concept is general and should apply to all diffusion relaxed FIR lasers.