Gas dynamic CO2-He-(N2) laser investigations

Experiments on IR laser action and gain measurements are reported for a CO
2
-containing gas mixture flow that cools as a result of expansion. The mixture is preheated by a reflected shock wave, and the gas is expanded into a vacuum through a slit. Laser action is obtained in a CO
2
-He mixture, while the addition of nitrogen increases the gain. The gain was found to depend on the distance from the slit and the gas pressure before the slit.