Role of xenon in the mechanism of population inversion in a carbon monoxide laser. I. Investigation of physicochemical processes and operating conditions in a laser with a sealed active element

A study was made of the influence of the addition of xenon on the energy, electrical, and spectral characteristics of light-emitting molecules, and also on the translational temperature of a gas and on the chemical composition of the working mixture in a carbon monoxide laser with a sealed active element. In the absence of xenon in the working mixture it was found that the gas-discharge plasma converted the light-emitting CO molecules into CO₂, which resulted in the deterioration of the energy parameters and gave rise to lasing due to vibrational–rotational transitions in CO₂ at the wavelength of 10.6 μ. Lasing of CO in a sealed container employing gas mixtures containing krypton instead of xenon was achieved for the first time. It was found that the average (over the discharge cross section) gas temperature rose linearly on increase in the partial pressure of xenon in the gas mixture, which was due to a reduction in the thermal conductivity of the mixture.