Experimental investigation of the emission spectrum of an electron-beam-controlled cw CO laser

The first experimental investigation was made of the vibrational--rotational emission spectrum of a high-power electron-beam-controlled cw CO laser with cryogenic cooling of the working mixture and a nonselective three-pass telescopic resonator. Lasing on 24 vibrational--rotational lines was observed. Variation of the composition and temperature of the laser mixture resulted in different distributions of the power over the emission spectrum of the laser. The maximum efficiency of the emission of one vibrational--rotational line at an initial laser mixture temperature of approx.100 K was approx.4.5%.