Carbon dioxide waveguide laser with modulated parameters

Theoretical and experimental investigations were made of the frequency dependences of the intensities of spontaneous and stimulated radiation emitted by CO₂ molecules in a compact waveguide laser when the density of the current used to pump the active medium was modulated. A study was made of the influence of the N₂ and CO components of the gas mixture on the effective lifetime τ_eff of the active level of the CO₂ molecule. It was found that the laser output power I had to be allowed for in the determination of τ_eff from the modulation characteristics of I. These modulation characteristics enabled us to determine the frequency range of modulation of the output radiation power.