Kinetics of a CO2 nuclear pumped laser

A detailed kinetic model is presented for the analysis of a nuclear pumped CO2-N2-He laser system. The model assumes that collisional recombination is the dominant pumping mechanism. The results show that, for mixtures typical of those employed in electric discharge systems, the gain coefficients are such that lasing is not expected to take place. On the other hand, concentrations of CO2 in the range 1/2 percent - 3 percent are optimal for direct nuclear pumping.