Line-tunable CO2 laser operating in the region 2280–2360 cm−1 pumped by energy transfer from Br(42P1/2)

Abstract
A line‐tunable CO2 laser operating in the region 2280–2360 cm−1 is described. The laser is pumped by electronic‐to‐vibrational energy transfer from Br(42P1/2) atoms, which are produced directly by the pulsed photolysis of Br2, to CO2 molecules. The energy‐transfer process is shown to be mode specific, populating the (10°1) state of CO2 directly and thereby providing for stimulated emission on the (10°1) ‐ (10°0) band near 4.3 μm. The experimental arrangement provides a simple line‐tunable source of laser radiation in this, as well as other, ir spectral regions. Further, the arrangement is quite convenient and easy to use since the technology involved is derived from that of flash‐pumped dye and Nd lasers, and the laser gas samples do not degrade with use, allowing the system to be operated in a sealed‐off mode.