Theoretical investigation of the emission characteristics of an electron-beam-controlled CO laser

A study is made of the spectral, threshold, and energy characteristics of an electron-beam-controlled CO laser emitting long (10^–4–10^–3 sec) pulses. The study is based on a numerical solution of a system of rate equations which describe the populations of the vibrational levels of the CO molecule, stimulated emission as a result of transitions between these levels, and changes in the rotational-translational temperature of the gas.