Gas dynamic laser

The lasing medium gas has such properties that an energetically lower vibrational state relaxes faster than a higher vibrational state, and so a population inversion is achieved in a particular time.

It was invented by Edward Gerry and Arthur Kantrowitz at Avco Everett Research Laboratory in 1966.

Any hot and compressed gas with appropriate vibrational structure could be utilized.

This device could have very high pulsed peak power output suitable for laser weapons.

Almost any chemical laser uses gas-dynamic processes to increase its efficiency.