A diode pumped Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser emitting at 2.3 mu m has been developed to extend the near infrared spectral region accessible for Intracavity Laser Absorption Spectroscopy. The achieved sensitivity on the order of alpha(min) similar to 1.5 x 10(-9) cm(-1) (or 3 x 10(-10) cm(-1)/root Hz), has allowed detecting water and carbon dioxide lines with an intensity as low as 10(-27) and 2 x 10(-28) cm/molecule, respectively. The first detection of the 31104-00001 band of (CO2)-C-13-O-16, and of a number of transitions of the 31104-00001 and 40005-01101e bands of (CO2)-C-12-O-16, is reported together with their rotational analysis. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.