D2-CO2 and D2-N2O electric discharge gas-dynamic lasers

cw CO2 and N2O lasing has been obtained in a new electric discharge gas-dynamic laser device. The device consists of a subsonic plenum discharge region where vibrational excitation occurs, a supersonic nozzle array where the laser species is injected, and a supersonic cavity where mixing, energy transfer, and lasing occur. In the present experiments both CO2 and N2O are pumped by energy transfer from D2 excited in the discharge. Comparisons are made for CO2 pumped by both N2 and D2, and N2O and CO2 pumped by D2.