Gain distribution, population densities and rotational temperature for the (00°1)-(10°0) rotation-vibration transitions in a flowing COinf2/inf-Ninf2/inf-He laser

Small-signal gain coefficients in a flowing amplifying mixture of CO2-N2-He were measured on 46 individual rotation-vibration transitions in thePandRbranches of the (001) - (100) band in CO2. The resulting gain distribution as a function ofJwas in agreement with a Boltzmann distribution of population among the rotational levels of each vibrational state. The physical parameters characterizing the CO2laser levels were found to beN₀₀₁N₁₀₀ = 2. 27; N₀₀₁Nₓ₎ₓ₀₋ 0. 17;N₁₀₀Nₓ₎ₓ₀₋ 0. 08; T = 340 where Ntotalis the number of CO2molecules in the amplifying medium. The operating mixture was characterized by the following partial pressures and flow velocity: p (CO2) =0. 65 torr; p (N2) =1. 40 torr; p (He) =2. 9 torr; v=192 cm/s.