Carbon monoxide lasers: problems of physics and engineering

A review of problems concerning up to date CO laser physics and engineering is presented. Kinetic processes, including multiquantum processes of vibrational-vibrational exchange, optical pumping, explosive absorption, amplification of multiline radiation, its optical quality and phase conjugation are analyzed. Modes of operation (overtone lasing, Q- switching, etc.), laser geometry, methods of pumping and cooling, scalability of CO lasers and delivery of their radiation are discussed. A special attention is paid to the quite new results on first-overtone ((Delta) V equals 2) CO laser jointly obtained at the Lebedev Physics Institute (Russia), TRINITI (Russia) and Air Force Research Lab (USA).