Influence of rotational relaxation in a CO2 amplifier on the shape of a short amplified pulse

An investigation was made into the change in shape of a nanosecond radiation pulse as it propagated in a TEA CO₂ amplifier having a 5-m long amplifying medium. It was shown experimentally and theoretically that under certain conditions there was a substantial change in the pulse shape; a second peak caused by rotational relaxation in the amplifying medium appeared at the trailing edge of a pulse.