Q switching of the CO2laser by molecular gases exhibiting the Stark effect

Results are presented on observations of active
Q
switching of the CO
2
laser by intracavity Stark modulation with a sine-wave or square-wave electric field using methyl chloride and 1-1 difluoroethane. Passive
Q
switching of the
R
branch of the 10.4-μm band by methyl fluoroform, at a repetition rate variable by a dc Stark field, is also reported.