Gain and emission spectrum of a pulsed electron-beam-controlled N2O laser

An experimental and theoretical investigation was made of the small-signal gain in a pulsed electron-beam-controlled N₂O laser. The gain was found to exceed ~ 1 m^–1. A comparison of the experimental and calculated gain values was used as the basis for estimating the pumping efficiency of N₂O molecules in an electron-beam-controlled discharge and the relaxation constant of the upper active level. The lasing frequency of the N₂O laser was tunable in spectral ranges corresponding to vibrational–rotational transitions from R (46) to R (2) and from P (2) to P (46). The laser output energy, at its maximum in the distribution over the rotational numbers, was ~ 8 J (~ 16 J · liter^–1 ·amagat^–1).