SPATIALLY RESOLVED GAIN MEASUREMENTS IN A FLOWING CO2 AMPLIFIER

Abstract

Spatially resolved gain measurements at 10.6μ have been made transverse to the discharge in an axially flowing CO₂ laser amplifier. These show a nonuniform gain throughout the discharge with maximum gain at the upstream end of the positive column. Increasing the flow velocity shifts the gain profile and leads to an over‐all increase in gain. Spatial intensity profiles of the sidelight emission of CO₂ at 4.3μ, CO at 0.48 and 2.3 μ, and N₂ at 3371 Å are shown.