Tunable Infrared Maser Spectrometers

Abstract

Magnetically tunable infrared masers of He-Xe at 3.5070 µm and He-Ne at 3.3913 µm are described. Basic considerations and experimental problems in applying a tunable infrared maser to infrared spectroscopy are discussed. Theoretical discussions of the sensitivity and the resolution of the infrared maser spectrometer are presented. By using a small solenoid, the He-Xe maser was tuned in the range of about ±4000 MHz and the He-Ne maser was tuned about ±2000 MHz. Absorption spectra of some organic molecules were observed by the Stark-modulation as well as by the video method. Single-pass gains of the He-Xe and the He-Ne discharge were measured by the signal from tunable masers. An asymmetry in the output power of the He-Xe maser against scanning magnetic field can be explained from the observed hyperfine component of the maser transition of Xe.