Intracavity double resonance on optically pumped submillimeter lasers

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Molecular Spectroscopy
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Far-infrared (FIR) lasers are crucial tools in spectroscopy.
• Understanding the dynamics of the active medium is key to optimizing laser performance.
• Molecular energy level structures, like K doubling, influence laser properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the double resonance phenomenon in FIR laser active media.
• To experimentally determine intensity and polarization-selection rules.
• To measure K doubling in specific excited states of methanol for the first time.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a double resonance technique on a FIR laser.
• Performing experiments with methanol as the active medium.
• Analyzing spectral data to derive selection rules and measure K doubling.

Main Results:

• Experimental results on methanol are presented.
• Intensity and polarization-selection rules were determined.
• K doubling in the K = 4 levels of the first-excited-CO stretch state was measured and reported.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a detailed understanding of double resonance in FIR lasers.
• The findings offer insights into molecular energy level structures and selection rules.
• This work establishes a new measurement for K doubling in methanol, advancing molecular spectroscopy.