Macroscopic and molecular processes in gas lasers

The book treats a wide range of problems connected with the physics and technology of gas-flow lasers. Aspects of the theories of quantum electronics, physical kinetics and gas dynamics relevant to the theory of gas-flow lasers are reviewed, and various methods for obtaining population inversions at vibrational-rotational transitions are considered along with the processes involved in the pump and lasing kinetics of CO2 and CO lasers. The physics and technology of volume discharges in dense gases are discussed, and the gasdynamic processes occurring in gas lasers are considered. Particular attention is given to the operating principles of flowing gas discharge lasers, gasdynamic lasers and gasdynamic lasers with selective excitation, and the design and performance of specific examples are presented.