A PURE ROTATIONAL, OH $(^{2}\Pi)$ CHEMICAL LASER

Abstract

Flash photolysis of 15 Torr of a $90/3/1 = Ar/H_{2}/O_{3}$ mixture in a laser cavity produces laser emission in the far infrared between $250 cm^{-1}$ and $700 cm^{-1}$. Over ten different laser lines have been resolved and assigned to pure rotational transitions $(R_{1}(N),N < 26)$ in v = 1 of OH $(^{2}\Pi)$. Studies of this lasing as a function of gaseous substituents and additives will be presented. Possible chemical pumping mechanisms will be discussed.