Investigation of the gain and output parameters of a TEA CO2 laser emitting in the 11-μ region (0111–1110 band)

The results are reported of the optimization of a TEA CO₂ laser emitting the lines of the P branch in the 01¹1–11¹0 hot band. A maximum gain of 0.7 m^–1 was obtained in a CO₂:N₂:He=1:0.8:1 mixture at a total pressure of 220 Torr and with a specific input energy (into all the vibrations of the CO₂ and N₂ molecules) of ~265J·liter^–1·atm^–1. The output energy of 2.3J obtained in the P(19) line of the hot band was ~40% of the energy in the strong lines of the conventional 00°1–10°0 band in this system under optimal conditions.