Investigation of the absorption of radiation emitted from a tunable CO2 laser by water vapor in the range 9–11 μ

The results of measurements of the transmission of radiation emitted from a tunable CO₂ laser by the water vapor continuum in the range 9–11 μ are reported. The results for 23 laser lines are used to derive an approximate expression for the calculation of the continuous absorption of radiation by water vapor as a function of its temperature and pressure, as well as a function of the radiation wavelength and the pressure of the broadening gas. It is shown that this expression can be used to calculate the absorption of CO₂ laser radiation propagating in the atmosphere.