Generation of short pulses of 10 μ radiation

Short and ultrashort infrared radiation pulses were produced by double consecutive generation of the difference frequency between two lasers, when one of them (for example, a CO₂ laser) determined the spectrum and emission line and the other provided the necessary pulse duration. This method was used to generate pulses of 20 nsec duration and 10 kW/cm² intensity in the CO₂ laser emission range.