Pulsed N2O molecular laser studies

The afterglow pulse-gain technique was used to measure the relaxation of the 00°1 upper laser level in N2O from 300 to 700°K. The rate constant (torr^-1s^-1) varies with temperature as 10 . 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 N2O + 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 CO2. Measurements of this transformation from one molecular laser mixture to another are discussed.