Applicability limit of the vibrational-temperature approximation for nitrogen in short-pulse CO/sub 2/--N/sub 2/--He lasers

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:7218664

Pivovar, V A

The applicability limit of the vibrational-temperature approximation for nitrogen is found from a kinetic model. This model gives a detailed description of pumping and relaxation under the conditions corresponding to a high-power volume discharge (n/sub e/=10/sup 12/--10/sup 13/ cm/sup -3/) operating in short pulses (tau/sub e/< or =10/sup -6/ sec) in the active medium of a CO/sub 2/--N/sub 2/--He laser at atmospheric pressure. This applicability limit exists because of a non-Boltzmann population of the first eight /sup 1/..sigma../sup +//sub g/ levels of N/sub 2/ during the transient stage because of the energetically selective pumping to these levels under the conditions assumed here. It is shown that the quantity ..cap alpha..=n/sub e//nN/sub 2/ can be used as a parameter to characterize a volume discharge. The stepwise fluxes among the eight electronically excited nitrogen levels play an important role in an accurate description of the pumping processes.

• OSTI ID: 7218664
• Journal Information: Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 22:2; ISSN SPTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
GAS LASERS
HELIUM
LASERS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PUMPING
PULSES
RARE GASES
RELAXATION
VIBRATIONAL STATES