Pulsed first-overtone CO laser: effective source of IR radiation in spectral range of 2.5-4.0 mu m

Spectral properties of radiation of a pulsed electron-beam controlled disch arge laser operating on the first-overtone transitions (Delta v = 2) of CO molecules have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Various sets of dielectric mirrors with high reflectivity in the wide range of over tone spectrum have been used for the laser resonator. Multiwave length lasi ng has been obtained in the wide spectral range of 2.5-4.0 mu m Efficiency of the laser operating on few vibrational transitions within a relatively n arrow spectral range comes up to 5% at entirely suppressed fundamental band (Delta v = 1) lasing. Spectral characteristics of the overtone laser opera ting on a selected set of vibrational transitions have been analyzed theore tically. A comparison of the experimental and theoretical data has been mad e. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.