Supersonic RF discharge CO laser operating in fundamental (delta=1) and overtone (delta=2) spectral bands

Radio frequency (RF)-excitation of carbon monoxide (CO) in a supersonic cavity with only a 10 cm gain length has yielded an observed fundamental band (v=1) multi-line lasing output power of 2.1 kW utilizing a one-pass resonator, with an electrical efficiency of 21%. More importantly, this work generated 50 W of overtone multi-line lasing around 2.7 micron. This was the first time lasing on CO overtone bands (v=2) had been demonstrated with a RF-pumped supersonic system