Kilometer-path low-temperature multiple-reflection cell for laser spectroscopy using tunable semiconductor diodes

Design characteristics and performance are described for a low-temperature multiple-reflection cell used with a laser diode spectrometer. The optical pathlength can be varied from 0.04 km to 1.5 km in the temperature controlled cell from 160 K to 300 K. Examples are presented to illustrate pressure broadening in the 16 mum N(2)O band and to indicate some high resolution absorption measurements of rotational manifolds in the nu(4) band of SF(6) and an application to the analysis of the Q-branch of the 2nu(4)-nu(4) hot band transition in SF(6).