“Complete” and “Partial” Vibrational Inversion in Chemically Pumped Molecular Lasers

Abstract

A generalized inversion density is defined and applied to a molecular laser having simultaneous inversion on many different vibrational–rotational transitions. This inversion density is shown to be a measure of the maximum quantum efficiency and the molar flow efficiency of a flowing chemical laser. Calculations are carried out using previously measured vibrational population distributions, and the limiting performance of completely inverted and partially inverted molecular lasers is compared quantitatively.