Laser parameters for the 10.8-µ N2O molecular laser

Measurements were made of the radiative lifetime for the 001-100 transition in N
2
O, the absolute population densities of the laser levels, and the saturation parameter in a typical flowing N
2
O-N
2
-He laser. These numbers are compared with the corresponding parameters in the CO
2
-N
2
-He system to explain the difference in their performance characteristics. In addition, dissociation of N
2
O in a discharge and power enhancement in the N
2
ON
2
-He laser by adding CO are discussed.