High-pressure electric-discharge CO2 laser with continuous frequency tuning and a narrow emission line

A high-pressure electric-discharge photoionization CO₂ laser was shown to be capable of emitting a narrow line which could be tuned continuously. The tuning range was ~ 0.3 cm^–1 in the vicinity of the center of the emission line. The time dependence of the pulse shape on the composition of the mixture was investigated and the feasibility of controlling the pulse duration was demonstrated.