Laser emission from the 13.9-μm 1000→0110 CO2 transition in pulsed electrical discharges

Laser emission on the Q and P branches of the 1000→0110 transition of CO2 has been observed in a system using a cryogenically cooled pulsed electrical discharge as the excitation source. This is the first reported evidence that an inversion on this transition can be produced by direct electrical excitation of a gas mixture containing CO2. The inversion is created by using a delayed 10.6-μm laser pulse to saturate the 1000 state. Parameter ranges for the system operating in an optimal CO2 : N2 : He=1 : 2 : 25 gas mixture are as follows: pressure, 5–18 Torr; temperature, 140–220 °K; time delay of 10.6-μm laser pulse, 0.1–4 msec; and output energy, 15–20 μJ/pulse.