Present and future problems concerning lasers in the far-infrared spectral region*

Abstract

Basic problems of far-infrared molecular lasers are discussed with respect to present and future developments. The topics of interest are those of excitation methods, molecular physics, energy exchange and relaxation processes, resonator design, and laser modeling and analysis. While great strides have been made in far-infrared molecular laser research in the last seven years, it is concluded that present efforts are largely in the exploratory stage and that detailed understanding and development of the area is still in the future.