Abstract The absorption of 10.6 μ energy by excess carriers in germanium is the basis for this study of carrier profiles within the bulk of intrinsic material. Excess carriers are injected into blocks of germanium with dimensions in the millimeter range. The material is probed by a fine beam from a CO2 laser and the energy in the exit ray is measured to determine carrier absorption. Carrier density patterns in the material are found to correspond to an excess carrier plus...