Energy exchange processes in a low temperature N2CO transfer laser

A liquid-nitrogen-cooled, active-N₂-pumped CO laser has produced cw oscillation from ν = 2 → ν = 1 (4.8 μm) to ν = 35 → ν = 34 (8.0 μm). An analysis of the output spectrum gives the VT relaxation rate of CO (ν ≈30) by He at 150°K as 2 × 10³ sec⁻¹ torr⁻¹.