METHANOL LASER LINE ASSIGNMENTS - EVIDENCE OF 4-LEVEL LASER SYSTEMS

The ''Ritz'' computer program, developed for facilitating the assignme nt of molecular Fourier transform absorption spectra and described in a previous work, determines the energy level values involved in the as signed transitions by the Rydberg-Ritz combination principle. Combinin g the data obtained from the analyses of high-resolution infrared (IR) and far-infrared (FLR) spectra, it is possible to predict possible FI R laser emissions of molecules. In the present work we have applied th is method to the common isotopomer methanol, (CH3)-C-12 (OH)-O-16, and obtained 14 proposed assignments for previously unassigned FIR laser lines. We also predict 15 possible new FIR laser emissions. For the fi rst time, an assignment involving a four-level laser system with colli sional population transfer to a slightly higher energy level is report ed. (C) 1998 Academic Press.