Population inversion of the vibrational levels of N2O behind a shock wave front

Calculations have demonstrated the possible establishment of a population inversion due to the 040–00⁰1 and 050–00⁰1 vibrational transitions in the N₂O molecule behind a shock wavefront propagating through a mixture of N₂O, N₂, and He gases. The absolute values of the inversion attain ~10¹⁵ cm^–3 although its zone of existence is generally narrower than one centimeter. A rough estimate of the gain due to these transitions yields (1–4)×10^–2 m^–1.