Dynamics of frequency-selective operation of a CO laser tunable in a wide spectral range

This paper presents a computational/theoretical analysis of the generation of a single pulse by a frequency-selective electronbeam sustained discharge CO laser. The calculations have been performed using a theoretical model in which the entire set of VV exchange processes involving CO molecules at high vibrational levels is taken into full account. We present calculated pulse shapes for a wide range of transitions, including transitions between high vibrational levels, and examine the possibility of raising the laser output intensity by optimising the density and composition of the gain medium.