CHEMICAL PUMPING OF THE WATER VAPOR LASER

Abstract

Flash photolysis of 3:1 $H_{2}$:$O_{3}$ ($P_{T}$ = 3.5 mm) and 9:2:1 $O_{2}$:$H_{2}$O:$O_{3}$ ($P_{T}$ = 5.0 mm) in a laser cavity results in oscillation on several lines in the far infrared. Lasing in the first mixture occurs strongly at $285.7 cm^{-1}$, $273.2 cm^{-1}$, and $262.5 cm^{-1}$ and weakly at $357.5 cm^{-1}$ and several other, as yet unmeasured, frequencies. In the second mixture lasing is observed only at $357.5 cm^{-1}$ and is more intense than the output at this frequency in the first mixture. The proposed assignment of all the observed laser lines to transitions in water and their respective pumping mechanisms will be discussed.