Optically pumped submillimeter gas lasers and the prospects for constructing space-qualifiable LO systems
An optically pumped, submillimeter laser operating in the 500 micron (600 GHz) to 100 micron (3 THz) spectral range is the primary and, at present, the only available local oscillator (LO) source for laboratory and astronomical heterodyne applications for this wavelength region. A short review of the state-of-the-art of submillimeter lasers as LO sources, with an emphasis given to receiver systems designed for airborne heterodyne observations, is presented. The characteristics and prospects for constructing a space-qualifiable laser LO system will also be given.
Chin, Gordon↗