Vacuum-Ultraviolet Lasing Action Observed in CO: 1800–2000 Å

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Abstract
Stimulated emission has been observed on Q and R branch lines of five bands of the CO fourth positive group (A 1 Π → X 1 Σ + ) in the wavelength range 1810–1970 Å. Superradiant 1.5‐nsec 6‐W pulses were produced using a Blumlein circuit parallel plate transmission line discharging through a tube containing carbon monoxide at 60 torr pressure. The order of appearance of the lines and their relative intensities are in agreement with a simple model. The model supposes single electron impact excitation of the ground state molecules to the lowest energy excited singlet state, followed by stimulated emission of those transitions of highest gain to the initially unpopulated, highly excited vibrational levels of the ground electronic state. No stimulated emission from highly perturbed rotational levels is seen.