Diagnostics of the active media of homogeneous and mixed gasdynamic lasers using a CO2 laser probe tunable between lines in conventional and unconventional bands

A cw CO₂ laser probe, tunable between the lines of five bands (00⁰1–10⁰0, 00⁰1–02⁰0, 01¹1–11¹0, 00⁰2–10⁰1, and 00⁰2–02⁰1), was developed and used to test a laser spectroscopic method for investigating the active media of homogeneous and mixed gasdynamic lasers. The experimental values of the translational and vibrational temperatures and of the active-particle (CO₂) concentration were compared with the calculated data. A satisfactory agreement was obtained.