Gain in CW laser pumped FIR laser gases

This study is an investigation of the FIR radiation amplification in CW laser excited gases so essential for a complete quantitative understanding of the FIR laser cycle. The small-signal FIR gain coefficients have been measured as functions of the relevant parameters for two transitions in CH3OH and three in CH2F2. The measurements, demonstrating the influence of coherent pumping have been compared to quantum-mechanical calculations of a three-level system, interacting resonantly with two coherent fields. The good agreement found between theory and measurements indicates the correctness of the theory in predicting the gain properties of the CW FIR lasers. Also FIR gain saturations have been measured directly and exhibit the expected features.