First Overtone CO Laser with Suppressed Fundamental Band Lasing

Abstract

First overtone (FO, ΔV=2) CO laser characteristics are studied both experimentally and theoretically. Fundamental band (ΔV=1) lasing is totally suppressed by intracavity optical filter. First overtone (FO) lasing in the experiment takes place between high vibrational levels (up to 30) corresponding to the spectral range of 2.7-3.6 µm. The e-beam controlled discharge laser parameters are varied in the following ranges: gas temperature 100-300 K, gas density 0.05 - 0.5 Amagat; 0 - 80% of helium and 60 - 97% [Illegible] nitrogen fraction in mixture CO:N2:He; the specific input energy up to 1 00 J/1 Amagat; pumping pulse length 20 - 1000 µs.