Chemical reactions during electric discharges in molecular gas lasers

The results are given of theoretical and experimental investigations of chemical processes ocurring during discharges in molecular carbon monoxide and dioxide lasers. The dependences of the final composition of the gas mixture and of the output radiation power of a CO₂ laser on the initial composition of the mixture and the carbon concentration were determined. Several general relationships, characteristic of chemical reactions in such discharges, were established. The experimental results were in agreement with a qualitative calculation based on a "quasi-equilibrium" chemical state model.