Physics of CO, Electric Discharge Lasers

Detailed analytical and experimental investigations of the major factors which influence the performance of CO2 electric discharge lasers have been conducted. Rates of electronic excitation of key laser levels have been computed from analytically determined electron energy distributions which are non-Maxwellian in CO2 laser discharges. Combination of these data with a model of molecular kinetic processes has permitted quantitative calculation of important laser properties such as gain and saturation intensity as a function of various discharge parameters. Further, analysis of discharge plasma properties has made possible comparison of calculated results with experimental data yielding both qualitative and quantitative agreement. These results reveal the dependence of laser properties on discharge characteristics, thereby illuminating the central features of CO2 laser operation.