Stimulated emission from carbon monoxide transitions below 5 μm excited in supersonic electric discharge

Abstract

Low-power cw laser emission from carbon monoxide excited by an rf discharge maintained directly within a supersonic (M ≈2.5) flow has been observed to consist predominantly of the lower-lying vibrational transitions. Optical power is extracted before the quasi-steady-state vibrational population distribution (dominated by vibrational-vibrational energy exchange) is achieved. P-branch laser emission has been observed on the ν=4→3, 5→4, and 6→5 vibrational transitions (λ = 4.89−5.04 μm) with a shifting to the higher vibrational transitions as the optical axis is translated downstream. A theoretical model coupling the effects of electron-impact pumping, molecular energy transfer, multiline laser emission, and nonequilibrium gas dynamics has been developed descriptive of this system. Representative model calculations are compared with experimental data.

Mode-Locked CO Laser for Isotope Separation of Uranium Employing Condensation Repression

“…It was acquired lasing with an RF discharge under excitation in the discharge before the nozzle as well as after it [3,[5][6][7][8][9][10]. Though only in case of a discharge exciting after the nozzle, the supersonic stream parameters allow to restore the pressure in the diffuser to the level of the atmospheric pressure and to apply a commercial compressor for gas streaming and piping.…”