title: Optical bistability in the CO(2) laser: the regular- to sequence-band switching.
abstract: Optical bistability is demonstrated in a CO(2) laser with an intracavity hot CO(2) cell switching between regular- and sequence-band lines. The relaxation coupling between CO(2) vibrational modes, which leads to cross saturation in competing gains, explains the observed results.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tabosa
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Leite