Nature of the influence of the pressure in a mixture on the stimulated emission of a chemical carbon monoxide pulse laser

The results are given of an experimental investigation of the characteristics of a chemical CO pulse laser based on the photoinitiated reaction CS₂+O₂. These characteristics are found as a function of the dilution of the active mixture with various gases (He, Ar, Xe, CO₂, N₂O, OCS). A trimolecular chemical process is the cause of the quenching of the laser action at higher pressures in the mixture. The relative efficiencies of various molecules as the third bodies in this process are determined. The existence of a fast chemical chain reaction in the CS₂+O₂ system is postulated.