Spectral line selection of carbon monoxide lasers.

An intracavity water vapor cell was used to perform spectral line selection of carbon monoxide lasers. The technique was demonstrated with a low pressure longitudinal discharge laser operating in the cw and repetitive Q- switched modes and with an electron beam stabilized pulsed laser. The cell containing an appropriate amount of water vapor limited laser action in a vibrational band to those rotational lines having predicted high atmospheric transmittance.