Amplification of radiation in the active medium of a cw electron-beam-controlled CO laser

A description is given of a method of two-dimensional diffraction calculations of the characteristics of a cw CO amplifier. The results are reported of the application of this method to a study of the brightness, spectral, and energy characteristics of a CO amplifier with a subsonic velocity of circulation of the active medium. A study is reported also of the influence of the intensity of the input radiation on the spectrum and transverse distribution of the intensity of the output radiation. A reduction in the divergence and deflection of the output radiation obtained from a CO amplifier on increase in the input signal is investigated. It is shown that variation of the divergence of the radiation along the length of the amplifier may be different for different transitions.