INVESTIGATION OF THE ACTIVE MEDIUM OF A DIRECT-CURRENT-EXCITED FAST-AXIAL-FLOW CO2-LASER USING A TUNABLE DIODE-LASER

Results of measurements of space-averaged vibrational and rotational t emperatures of CO2 and densities of CO and N2O in the active medium of a direct-current-excited fast-axial-flow carbon dioxide laser are rep orted. The experimental values of vibrational and rotational temperatu res of CO2 are shown to be consistent with the results of the previous ly reported numerical modelling based on the three-temperature approxi mation. The relatively small (3-10%) degree of dissociation of CO2 mol ecules allows us to ignore the contribution of CO molecules in the mod elling of the processes in the laser under consideration. An usually l arge (but negligible in the overall energy balance) concentration of N 2O is explained in terms of attachment of atomic oxygen O to vibration ally excited N2.