Laser pumped molecular lasers - Part I: Theory

The density matrix formalism describing the interaction between a three level molecular system and two nearly resonant laser fields of arbitrary intensity is extended to include the molecular
M
-level degeneracy. Expressions for gain on the two possible relative polarizations of a laser pumped molecular laser are derived and its saturation behavior discussed. Numerical results for the 385 μm transition in D
2
O and 496 μm transition in CH
3
F are presented.