Influence of plasma kinetic processes on electrically excited CO2 laser performance

Abstract

Reported values of electron‐molecule energy‐transfer rate coefficients are combined with heavy‐particle and radiative energy‐transfer rate coefficients in an analysis of the factors influencing the conversion of electron energy to optical energy at 10.6 μm in an electric discharge containing CO2, N2, and He. The analytical procedure and the important energy‐transfer processes involved are described in detail, and the parametric behavior of small‐signal gain, saturation intensity, and optical power density is presented as a function of electron number density, gas temperature,pressure, and mixture composition. The temperature and pressure dependence of the cross section for stimulated emission of 10.6‐μm radiation is also illustrated for a typical CO2 electric discharge laser gas mixture. Maintenance of gas temperature below approximately 700°K is shown to be of fundamental importance to CO2laser operation.