Use of luminescent screens in determination of spectral characteristics of infrared pulsed lasers

A description is given of a system for the investigation of spectral characteristics of infrared pulsed lasers. The system is based on a Fabry--Perot etalon and interferograms are displayed on optically quenched luminescent screens. The mechanism of the operation of the ZnS:Cu:Co phosphor is considered and the physics of visualization of the interference pattern is explained. Technical characteristics of the luminescent screens are given. The results of the investigation and estimates of the precision of measurements of the emission line width of pulsed lasers operating in the 1.5--1.7 ..mu.. wavelength range are used to demonstrate the suitability of luminescent screens for long-wavelength interferometry.