Study of the lamb dip and of rotational competition in a carbon dioxide laser - Applications to the laser stabilization and to the measurement of absorption coefficients of gases

A monomode carbon dioxide laser, delivering a constant power on any rotational line of either the 10.4-μ or the 9.4-μ band, has been achieved by control of the cavity frequency and of the gain. A piezoelectric ceramic has been used either for a frequency sweep of the cavity or for output stabilization at the bottom of the Lamb dip. This laser has been used for two studies.