Abstract

Continuously tunable laser emission in the 701200 m region can be produced by pumping various isotopic species of NH3, CH₃F, and CH₃Cl with sufficient infrared pump power so that stimulated Raman scattering is the dominant gain mechanism. Typically, the far-infrared (FIR) medium is contained in a mirrorless, dielectric waveguide cavity with an IR transmitting window on the input end and a quartz or TPX window on the FIR output end. We have fabricated and tested metallic mesh mirrors on quartz and TPX substances in both inductive and capacitive configurations. Use of these mirrors, as well as free-standing meshes, in NH₃ and CH₃F FIR Raman lasers has produced a substantial increase in the output intensity and some improvement in the continuity of the spectral coverage provided by these lasers.

© 1990 Optical Society of America