Influence of inactive resonator zones on the emission spectrum of electron-beam-controlled CO2 lasers

A theoretical determination is made of the spectral characteristics of an atmospheric-pressure pulse-periodic CO₂ laser taking into account the selective absorption of the radiation in the inactive zones of the resonator. It is shown that heating of the gas in these zones can strongly influence the formation of the spectrum of the output radiation. The possibility of controlling the emission spectrum by forced convection in the inactive zones is considered.