Gain profile and saturation in transverse flowing CO2 - N2 - He mixtures

We report gain profile measurements in a rapidly flowing, electrically excited CO2--N2--He mixture. These gain measurements were made with the same apparatus that has produced 1100 watts when used as a Gas-Transport Laser oscillator. This novel experimental apparatus provides closed-cycle flow of the gas mixture at velocities up to 300 cm/second across a one-meter single-pass gain path. A treat exchanger in the flow circuit cools the gas mixture before it is returned to the gain measurement region.