Pulsed N2O molecular laser studies

The afterglow pulse-gain technique was used to measure the relaxation of the 00°1 upper laser level in N
2
O from 300 to 700°K. The rate constant
k_{N_{2}O}
(torr
^-1
s
^-1
) varies with temperature as
\log
10
k_{N_{2}O} = 4.53 - 10.9T^{-1/3}
. Measurements of the relaxation time at 300°K agree with the fluorescence technique results of Yardley [1]. Gain studies were also made with gas mixtures in a nonflowing system. Single-pulsed N
2
O + CO + He mixtures at 300°K showed considerable peak gain. However, subsequent pulses of these mixtures show that the gain is reduced because of the chemical reaction forming CO
2
. Measurements of this transformation from one molecular laser mixture to another are discussed.