Competition between vibrational–rotational transitions in a CO2 laser with a diffraction grating

An analysis is made of the competition between vibrational–rotational transitions in a CO₂ laser with superimposed fields of two waves in a resonator, for example, in a widely used laser with an autocollimating diffraction grating. The results are reported of experimental and theoretical investigations of the combined lasing zone when switching occurs between the lines. A good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results is obtained.