Efficient NH(3) laser operation in the 1 6- to 21 -microm region.

An optically pumped NH(3) laser is simultaneously pumped by two pulsed CO(2) lasers operating on the 9R(30) and 9R(24) transitions. Inversion is created in the NH(3) 2v(2)-to-v(2) band, and line-tunable radiation is generated in the 16- to 21-microm region. The maximum pulse energy observed is 100 mJ, with a photon conversion efficiency from 9 to 18 microm of approximately 14%.