High power, high efficiency optically pumped NH3 lasers

A simple and efficient NH3 laser was tuned over more than 70 vibrational band transitions between 10.08 and 14.14 μm. The active medium was a dilute mixture of ammonia in argon and was optically pumped by the 9R(30) transition of a pulsed TEA-CO2 laser. Output energies greater than 1 J per pulse were observed on several of the strongest lines. In a non-selective cavity an energy conversion efficiency of greater than 35% was obtained with a maximum output energy of 4.6J. Optically pumped NH3 is shown to be a flexible and efficient system for the downconversion of CO2 radiation.