A cw carbon monoxide chemical laser is discussed. Experimental results are given for a longitudinal flow system in which partially dissociated oxygen, in a helium carrier, is mixed with carbon disulfide in an optical cavity to produce vibrationally excited CO. Laser action occurs in highly excited vibrational levels of CO with the transitions originating fromvequals;10 andvequals;9 being strongest. The system is analyzed using a static model with the result that the vibrational level pairs that exhibit the strongest laser action have average population densities that are roughly equal under lasing conditions. A dynamic model is proposed that invokes chemical excitation andVhyphen;Vrelaxation as the dominant excitation and relaxation processes, respectively. Calculations using this model explain limitations imposed on the system by the fluid mixing geometry and agree qualitatively with experiment.
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