Vibration-translation rates in CO2 glow discharges

V-T rates for the CO2 (1000) and (0001) levels have been measured in various 10.6-μm amplifying and absorbing glow discharges by a simple new technique. The rise and decay times of the changes produced in the discharge current by a short-duration 10.6-μm laser pulse are interpreted in terms of the V-T rates. Reciprocal rise and decay time plots vs pressure yield straight lines, the slopes of which are the average molecular V-T rates for the (1000) and (0001) levels. Provided the electron density is known, the electron deactivation rates for these levels can also be obtained.