Influence of collisions of the second kind on the electron energy balance and lasing characteristics of CO–N2 mixtures

A numerical solution of the Boltzmann transport equation for the electron energy distribution function and of a system of rate equations for the populations of the vibrational levels of the carbon monoxide and nitrogen molecules is used to study the influence of collisions of electrons with vibrationally excited molecules on the electron energy balance and characteristics of lasing of CO–N₂ mixtures. It is shown that pumping of such mixtures by a nonself-sustained discharge results in a significant redistribution of the pump power between the CO and nitrogen molecules and causes vibrational excitation of the molecules, so that the energy efficiency of lasing decreases strongly and the duration of the output pulses increases. This effect must be allowed for in calculations of the energy and time characteristics of lasing.