Behavior of a superradiance pulse with allowance for inhomogeneous line broadening

The behavior of a superradiance pulse is investigated with allowance for the effect of inhomogeneous line broadening. It is shown that such broadening leads to an asymmetry of the pulse shape, to an increase in the delay time and duration of the pulse, to a decrease in the maximal intensity, to a retardation of the superradiance in the final stage, and to the possible existence of a residual population inversion. Analytic expressions are obtained for the pulse parameters. Criteria for the applicability of the results are formulated.