Experimental determination of transport coefficients in CO2 laser gas mixtures

The electron ion recombination coefficient was measured in a variety of gas mixtures containing helium, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide at different pressures and with differing relative concentrations. The results are of importance to the development of high energy CO2 lasers. A pressure dependent recombination rate was found for CO2 and for mixtures of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. This observation is interpreted as the effects of two and three body recombination reactions. In contrast, no pressure dependence was found for any of the mixtures containing helium.