Production of single subnanosecond multi-line 10.6 μm laser pulses by fast optical gating

An electro-optic shutter, activated by a pulse generator switched with a laser triggered spark gap having a risetime of 120 psec, has been used to produce optical pulses of variable duration, as short as 600 psec, from the output of a uv photo-preionized CO₂ laser, which simultaneously oscillates on several rotational transitions.