Narrow gain spikes and frequency pulling in the midinfrared ammonia laser

The gain of a 12- mu m NH/sub 3/ laser transition, optically pumped by CO/sub 2/ laser radiation, has been measured under well-characterized conditions. Good agreement is found between the measured gain and theoretical calculations based on a three-level density matrix formalism. The theory was also employed to explain the stable frequency behavior of the NH/sub 3/ laser.<
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