Illustrate the principle of carbon dioxide laser in short.

Principle of carbon dioxide (CO₂) Laser:

To get Laser transition between two levels this is necessary to acquire Population inversion between such two levels and also raise the energy density of incident radiation.

Into Nd:YAG, He-Ne Lasers the transitions get place among the different electronic states of an ion or atom. In the case of carbon dioxide laser, Vibrational states are included. Since CO₂ is a molecule, this can vibrate and rotate. Therefore over and above electronic states, this possesses Vibrationaland Rotational states also.

Transitions can happen either between the Vibrational states of similar electronic state or Vibrational states of various electronic states. The principle of a CO₂ (Carbon-di-oxide) laser is transition between Vibrational states of similar electronic state by attaining Population Inversion between such states.