Atmospheric Attenuation of Laser Radiation from 0.76 to 31.25/um

High resolution atmospheric transmittance curves are presented for the spectral region 320 to 13,200/cm (0.7576 to 31.25 micrometers). These spectra are useful as a guide for selecting laser wavelengths for atmospheric propagation studies in this spectral region. In addition, this report provides attenuation coefficients for those lines of the CO, HF, DF, and CO2 laser systems which suffer the least atmospheric attenuation. A new aerosol model is introduced here, taking into account recent measurements of the complex index of refraction of aerosol particles.