Pulsed operation of an optically pumped far-infrared molecular laser

An investigation of the far-infrared (FIR) response of an optically pumped molecular laser to an infrared (IR) pulse source is presented. It is shown that a three-level laser model explains the observed amplitude and delay of FIR output pulses when a reduction factor for participating molecules is included in the model. A discussion of those physical mechanisms that might be responsible for the reduction factor is given along with a description of how the FIR laser's performance depends on various physical parameters.