CO2 laser with short-term stability of 10 to the -14th

A new method for stabilizing the frequency of the CO2 laser is reported. The third harmonic of the CO2 laser is phase-locked to a He-Ne/CH4 laser with a short-term frequency stability of about 10 to the -14th; the frequency characteristics of the He-Ne/CH4 laser are transferred to the CO2 laser. This stabilization method is of interest for frequency measurements in the visible range and for the development of a common standard of frequency and length up to optical frequencies.