Abstract
The expansion of a hot mixture of CO2, N2, and H2O through a Laval nozzle is analyzed. Mixtures appropriate to the stoichiometric combustion of acetylene and propane are used. The calculations indicate that, despite the large quantities of water vapor present, the expansion will result in a population inversion on the CO2 laser transition for both fuels. The predicted maximum gain for these conditions is 3 dB/m which occurs for a reservoir temperature of 2000 °K. Design curves for this type of laser are given.

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