REFLECTION EFFICIENCY AND RESPONSE RELAXA TION-TIME IN DEGENERATE 4-WAVE-MIXING IN THE ACTIVE MEDIA OF TEA CO2-LASERS

An experimental investigation was made of the reflection by a nonlinea rity from gain saturation in the active medium of a TEA CO2 laser unde r degenerate four-wave mixing conditions. A new mechanism of relaxatio n of the response to such a nonlinearity was identified and processes with submicrosecond and subnanosecond relaxation times were found in C O2. The saturation intensities for these processes and the conditions For achieving high reflection intensities as a result of such a mixing were determined.