Electron distributions in gas lasers

Simplified models of collision processes are introduced which make possible closed-form analyses of electron distributions in molecular gases. In particular, models are considered that approximate the collision processes in a diatomic gas and in a gas mixture resembling the He : N2 : CO2 laser. Expressions are obtained for the rates of excitation of the vibrational modes which include the effect of superelastic collisions. The results are illustrated by evaluating the V-I characteristic and the efficiency of an E-beam CO2 laser.