Mathematical modeling of a high power CW CO/sub 2/ gas-dynamic laser

Numerical solution of gas-dynamic laser equations in a gas mixture CO/sub 2/:N/sub 2/:H/sub 2/O was carried out, using a five-temperature-model (one translational and four vibrational temperatures) by a computational program written in FORTRAN. The spatial distributions of population inversion, gain and temperatures of the gas flow, in addition to the laser intensity and power extraction were studied inside the cavity, for certain initial conditions like pressure (p/sub 0/=20 atm), temperature (T/sub 0/=1500 K), ratio of gases in the laser mixture (CO/sub 2/:N/sub 2/:H/sub 2/O/spl equiv/10:85:5).