Mixed isotope multiatmosphere CO2laser

A sealed transversely excited multiatmosphere pulsed laser is reported in which the active media is a combination of three isotopes:
¹²
C
¹⁶
O
2
,
¹²
C
¹⁸
O
2
, and
¹²
C
¹⁶
O
¹⁸
O. Lasing action is obtained on all 12 vibrational-rotational bands with continuous tuning observed between line centers at pressures
\frac{1}{2}
to
\frac{1}{4}
of those required with conventional
¹²
C
¹⁶
O
2
lasers.