Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A tunable narrow-bandwidth vacuum ultra violet laser source was developed and characterised. Two-photon resonant four-wave sum-frequency mixing of two pulsed dye laser beams in magnesium vapour was used to generate the VUV laser light. A heat pipe oven with a concentric design was incorporated to provide a magnesium vapour column of around 30 cm in length with a sufficiently stable temperature and appropriate vapour pressure for efficient VUV production. This is a longer nonlinear medium length than previously produced in our laboratory using a crossed heat pipe oven. The longer medium facilitated the production of VUV laser light of higher intensity than was previously obtainable. High resolution laser induced fluorescence spectra of carbon monoxide in a supersonic gas jet was recorded using the tunable VUV laser light produced in the crossed heat pipe oven. Experimental parameters were optimised and adjusted for the selective detection of the forbidden singlet-triplet transitions which typically have longer lifetimes than singlet-singlet transitions. Transitions from the X¹Σ⁺(v = 0) ground state to the e³Σ⁻( v = 5) triplet state were recorded, and accurate wavelength for the spectral lines were determined. Laboratory wavelengths for these lines have not been measured previously. Accurate wavelength for the weak forbidden spectral lines of CO are important in astrophysical applications, for example determining column densities of interstellar gas clouds. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Afstembare smal bandwydte vakuum ultraviolet laser bron is ontwikkel en gekarakteriseer. Twee-foton resonante vier-golf som-frekwensie vermenging van twee gepulseerde kleurstoflaserbundels in 'n magnesium damp is gebruik om die VUV laser lig te produseer. 'n Hittepyp oond met 'n konsentriese ontwerp is in gebruik geneem om a magnesium damp kollom van ongeveer 30 cm in lengte te voorsien waarvan die temperatuur voldoende stabiel is en die dampdruk toepaslik is vir effektiewe VUV produksie. Dit is 'n langer nie-liniêre medium as wat in die verlede deur 'n kruis-hittepyp oond voorsien is. Die langer medium het dit moontlik gemaak om VUV laser lig van hoër intensiteit te produseer as wat tot dusver bereikbaar was. Hoë resolusie laser geinduseerde fluoresensie spektra van koolstof monoksied in a supersoniese gasstraal is opgeneem met die hulp van die afstembare VUV laser lig geproduseer in die kruis-hittepyp oond. Eksperimentele parameters is geoptimeer en verstel vir die selektiewe waarneming van die verbode singlet-triplet oorgange wat tipies langer leeftye besit in vergelyking met singlet-singlet oorgange. Oorgange vanaf die X¹Σ⁺(v = 0) grond toestand na die e³Σ⁻( v = 5) triplet toestand is opgeneem en akkurate golflengtes vir die spektrale lyne is bepaal. Laboratorium golflengtes het tot dusver nie bestaan vir hierdie lyne nie. Akkurate golflengtes vir die swak verbode spektrale lyne van CO het belangrike toepassings in astrofisika soos die bepaling van die kollom digtheid van interstellêre gas wolke.