CCl_2F_2 optical filter for a TEA CO_2-laser-pumped NH_3 laser

CCl(2)F(2) (Freon 12) gas was successfully used as an optical filter for a TEA CO(2)-laser-pumped NH(3) laser in the wavelength region from 11.7 to 13microm. When pumped by a 9R(30) line, the NH(3) lasing lines were distributed from 11.7 microm of a P(4,K) line to 13 microm of a P(8,K) line, and the residual pump energy of 1 J was decreased to less than a few millijoules without decreasing the NH(3) laser power by passing through a 5-cm-long CCl(2)F(2) cell filled at 70 Torr.