Contribution to waveguide-laser theory

The part played by the diffusion of gas mixture components in the lasing mechanism of a CO2 waveguide laser is analyzed. A procedure is proposed, using which a multicomponent linear-diffusion problem involving dissipation can be reduced to a one-component problem. The superposition of relaxation modes is studied for a cylindrical waveguide. The contribution of diffusion to electromagnetic energy losses is assessed for an EH(11) hybrid mode of a dielectric waveguide. A rapid increase in losses is noted for a waveguide tube prepared of SiO2.