This volume reports investigations which form part of a major series of theoretical and experimental studies being carried out in the Laboratory of Low-Temperature Plasma Optics at the Lebedev Physics Institute in Moscow. The papers give the results of systematic investigations of the chemical composition and of the electrical and optical properties of discharge plasmas, and also of populations of laser levels. Reliable and detailed information is given on the dissociation of carbon dioxide gas in discharges; the nature of the velocity distribution function, average energies, and densities of electrons; and populations and vibrational temperatures of molecules in cw CO and CO lasers. The material in this volume is intended for specialists in quantum electronics and low temperature plasma diagnostics.

This volume reports investigations which form part of a major series of theoretical and experimental studies being carried out in the Laboratory of Low-Temperature Plasma Optics at the Lebedev Physics Institute in Moscow. The papers give the results of systematic investigations of the chemical composition and of the electrical and optical properties of dis charge plasmas, and also of populations of laser levels. Reliable and detailed information is given on the dissociation of carbon dioxide gas in discharges; the nature of the velocity dis tribution function, average energies, and densities of electrons; and populations and vibrational temperatures of molecules in cw CO and CO lasers. 2 The material in this volume is intended for specialists in quantum electronics and low temperature plasma diagnostics. v CONTENTS Investigations of Physicochemical Properties of CO Laser Plasma 2 V. N. Ochkin Introduction •. . •. . . . 1 Chapter I Dissociation of CO Molecules in a CO Laser Gas-Discharge Plasma. • . • • • . • • • • 3 2 2 §1. Brief Review of Investigations of Dissociation of CO in 2 Electrical Discharges. • • • . . • . . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • . . • • • • • • 3 §2. Method for Determining Gas Composition. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . . • . 6 §3. Dissociation of CO in a Continuous-Flow Laser System. • • • • . . • . .

A variety of plasmas include molecules rather than only ions or atoms. Examples are ionospheres of the Earth and other planets, stellar atmospheres, gaseous discharges for use in various devices and processes, and fusion plasmas in the edge region. This book describes the role of molecules in those plasmas by showing elementary collision processes involving those molecules.

Proceedings of the 30th Course of the International School of Quantum Electronics on Atoms, Solids and Plasmas in Super-Intense Laser Fields, held 8-14 July, in Erice, Sicily

Plasma Science and Engineering transforms fundamental scientific research into powerful societal applications, from materials processing and healthcare to forecasting space weather. Plasma Science: Enabling Technology, Sustainability, Security and Exploration discusses the importance of plasma research, identifies important grand challenges for the next decade, and makes recommendations on funding and workforce. This publication will help federal agencies, policymakers, and academic leadership understand the importance of plasma research and make informed decisions about plasma science funding, workforce, and research directions.

A Solid Compendium of Advanced Diagnostic and Simulation ToolsExploring the most exciting and topical areas in this field, Laser-Plasma Interactions focuses on the interaction of intense laser radiation with plasma. After discussing the basic theory of the interaction of intense electromagnetic radiation fields with matter, the book covers three ap