Dynamic tuning of the frequency of pulsed CO2 lasers and the attainment of multispike lasing using an intracavity cell containing an infrared absorbing gas

A method is described and the first experimental results are given of a study of dynamic tuning of the frequency of pulsed CO₂ lasers using an intracavity cell containing a gas absorbing infrared radiation. Using this method, sequences of 3–6 pulses of ~100 nsec duration were obtained during a single laser shot (the frequencies of the pulses satisfying the condition ν₁>ν₂>ν₃...), lasing appeared simultaneously at 3–5 lines, and trains of 8–10 pulses of identical frequency with a pulse duration of ~100 nsec and an interpulse separation of ~150–300 nsec were generated.