Calculation model of a CO laser with a high-frequency discharge in a supersonic stream of combustion products

A calculation model was developed for a CO laser with an hf discharge in a supersonic stream of combustion products. The model can be used to determine the energy, time, and spectral parameters of a CO laser, and to optimise its construction and operation so as to ensure that the required output characteristics are obtained. The model was employed to design and construct for the first time a prototype system in which lasing was achived. A high laser efficiency was ensured by adjustment of the composition of the combustion products, selection of the duration of exposure to a discharge, and composition of the active mixture subject to the condition that the bulk of the energy supplied by the electric field was transferred to the vibrational levels of the CO molecules. In this case the other components of the active mixture acted simply as a buffer gas if the volume fraction of the nitrogen molecules did not exceed 90% and the volume fraction of the oxygen molecules was not greater than the corresponding fraction of the CO molecules in the mixture.