Compact Radio Frequency Discharge-Pumped Slab CO Laser System with a Zinc Germanium Phosphide (ZnGeP) Sum-Frequency Generator for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere.

Based on our experimental study of spectral characteristics of an improved compact CO laser system, the prospects of using such a laser system for solving urgent problems of atmospheric sounding were demonstrated. An increase in the number of laser lines due to intracavity generation of the second harmonic and sum-frequencies in a nonlinear zinc germanium phosphide (ZnGeP) crystal enriches capabilities of the laser. It was shown that such a CO laser system with frequency conversion in ZnGeP crystal can be used for detection and measuring concentration of at least 14 minor natural and pollution gases components of the atmosphere.