SMMW laser emission and frequency measurements in doubly-deuterated methyl fluoride (CHD2F)

Submillimeter wave laser action is reported in CHD
2
F on 17 "parent" transitions plus three cascade lines. Accurate heterodyne frequency measurements are reported for nine lines. Useful output powers of greater than 1 mW were observed for several lines. The strongest line, which is at 384.3 μm, is particularly significant because of its potential as a local oscillator for the 385 μm D
2
O laser.