Nuclear pumping of a carbon monoxide laser

Nuclear-Induced Plasmas of Gas Mixtures and Nuclear-Pumped Lasers

“…In [140] based on calculation of electrons spectrum formed in a molecular gas under the action of ionizing radiation, it was shown that the efficiency of CO nuclear-pumped laser cannot exceed 0.5%. Further work [141] showed the main mechanism of molecular formation in the form of dissociative recombination of cluster ions with formation of electronically excited molecules and subsequent collision of these molecules with molecules in ground state. According to the authors [141] plasma chemical processes in active medium can make a significant contribution to the energy pumping into vibrational modes of molecules and allow achieving the efficiency pumping up to 18%.…”

“…Further work [141] showed the main mechanism of molecular formation in the form of dissociative recombination of cluster ions with formation of electronically excited molecules and subsequent collision of these molecules with molecules in ground state. According to the authors [141] plasma chemical processes in active medium can make a significant contribution to the energy pumping into vibrational modes of molecules and allow achieving the efficiency pumping up to 18%. The use of argon as a buffer gas instead of helium should increase 1.5-fold the efficiency of pumping in vibrational levels and reduce by an order the threshold energy for active medium pumping.…”