Highly sensitive detection of gaseous impurities by intracavity laser spectroscopy based on a Co:MgF2 laser

The intracavity absorption spectra of CO₂ and H₂O in the range 2.03 — 2.05 μm, as well as NH₃ and CH₄ in the range 2.23 — 2.26 μm, were obtained with the aid of a Co:MgF₂ laser. It was found that an intracavity laser spectrometer based on a Co:MgF₂ laser emitting for 1 ms can be used to detect many impurity gases in the atmosphere at a concentration level of (1 — 40) × 10^–9.