Amplification in a waveguide CO2 laser employing an rf electrodeless discharge

Some features are discussed of the pumping of a CO₂ laser having a waveguide resonator and using a capacitative rf discharge. The gain was measured for several carbon dioxide vibrational–rotational transitions in a discharge chamber with a slowly circulated active medium and the dependence of the gain on the total pressure was determined. Continuous lasing was achieved at active mixture pressures up to 37 kPa.