Experimental investigation of the amplification of light and of coherent emission form a N2O + CO + He mixture expanding in a supersonic nozzle

An experimental investigation was made of the amplification of light and of coherent emission from a 10% N₂O + 20% CO + 70% He gas mixture. The amplification was recorded at λ = 10.6 and 10.9 μ at a distance of 15 mm from the nozzle edge. The maximum amplification was obtained when the velocity of the incident shock wave was ~ 1.9 km/sec, which corresponded to a deceleration temperature T₀ ~2100°K. In the presence of mirrors the mixture emitted coherent λ = 10.6 μ radiation under maximum-gain conditions.