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Science 3 April 1981:
Vol. 212. no. 4490, pp. 45 - 49
DOI: 10.1126/science.212.4490.45
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Articles

Discovery of Natural Gain Amplification in the 10-Micrometer Carbon Dioxide Laser Bands on Mars: A Natural Laser

MICHAEL J. MUMMA 1, DAVID BUHL 1, GORDON CHIN 1, DRAKE DEMING 1, FRED ESPENAK 1, THEODOR KOSTIUK 1, and DAVID ZIPOY 2

1 Infrared and Radio Astronomy Branch, Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
2 Astronomy Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742

Fully resolved intensity profiles of various lines in the carbon dioxide band at 10.4 micrometers have been measured on Mars with an infrared heterodyne spectrometer. Analysis of the line shapes shows that the Mars atmosphere exhibits positive gain in these lines. The detection of natural optical gain amplification enables identification of these lines as a definite natural laser.

Submitted on November 10, 1980
Revised on January 16, 1981

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)