Kinetics of a CO 2 Nuclear Pumped Laser

Abstract

D IRECT nuclear pumping was demonstrated at a number of laboratories using molecular and atomic systems with one notable exception, i.e., CO2. This work is being undertaken with the objective of explaining the mystery surrounding the direct nuclear pumping of CO2. To achieve this objective, a detailed kinetic model which incorporates all important reactions in a He-N2-CO2 mixture is formulated. The results show that for mixtures typical of those employed in electric discharge systems, the gain coefficients are such that lasing is not expected to take place. Moreover, for conditions representative of current nuclear-pumped laser experiments, concentrations of CO2 in the 1-3% range are optimum.