A 16-µm source for laser isotope enrichment

A potentially efficient, high-energy 16-μm source is proposed based on stimulated rotational Raman scattering in H
2
or D
2
using a TEA CO
2
laser source. The calculated pump energy threshold for rotational Raman scattering on the
S
(0) 354.33 cm
^-1
Raman line of H
2
at 77 K and 1 atm pressure is 3.1 J.