Measurement of the Absolute Frequencies of CO2 Laser Transitions by Multiplication of CO2 Laser Difference Frequencies

It is verified experimentally that frequency differences between CO2 laser lines and the harmonics of these differences can be used as intermediate frequencies to bridge the gap between microwave frequency standards and infrared frequencies. Criteria for the design of a microwave to 30-THz frequency chain are discussed, and experimental details of the measurement of five CO2 isotope laser frequencies to an accuracy of ±2 parts in 109 are presented. The values obtained for the CO2 isotope transitions are 26334.776614 GHz for P(40) of 13C16O2, 27979.469512 GHz for R(6) of 13C18O2, 28665.704581 GHz for P(6) of 12C16O2, 29442.483293 GHz for R(30) of 12C16O2 and 33328.991337 GHz for R(8) of 12C18O2.