title: Sequential optical pumping of a far-infrared ammonia laser.
abstract: We present a novel technique for resonantly pumping a continuous-wave far-infrared NH(3) laser with a linetunable mid-infrared NH(3) laser that is optically pumped by a CO(2) laser. In this two-step process we first convert 10-microm CO(2) laser photons into 11-13-microm NH(3) laser photons, which are then converted into 60-400-microm photons in a far-infrared NH(3) laser. Continuous-wave laser action on 10 far-infrared lines of (15)NH(3), including four new ones, has been obtained with a single CO(2) laser pump line.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tachikawa
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Evenson