PASSIVE Q-SWITCHING OF THE CO2 LASER BY CH3F AND PF5 GASES

Abstract
The CH3F gas is found to cause passive Q‐switching of two CO2 laser lines in the 9.6 μ band. The responsible vibrational‐rotational transitions of CH3F are identified. The PF5 gas is found to have an unusual capability of Q‐switching practically all the P‐branch laser lines in the 10.6 μ band of CO2. Relevant absorption coefficients are presented.