Amplified spontaneous emission of a molecular nitrogen laser excited by an intense relativistic electron beam

Report of a study of the shape and length of the output pulse of a molecular nitrogen laser, excited by an intense relativistic electron beam, is described. The rate equations are computer solved, at first ignoring the spontaneous emission during the excitation process. Afterwards the rate equations are solved taking into account excitation functions of various shapes and lengths, related to electron-beam pulses of a few kA and a few nsec. Laser power output, energy, and peak-time, i.e., the time at which the gain reaches its saturated value, are given and discussed as functions of the intensity and rise time of the excitation functions