Electron-Beam-Controlled Electrical Discharge as a Method of Pumping Large Volumes of CO2 Laser Media at High Pressure

Abstract

An electron-beam-controlled discharge has been used to pump a variety of CO2 laser gas mixtures at atmospheric pressure in substantial volumes. Electrical and laser properties of the pumped medium have been measured. Small-signal-gain coefficients up to 0.045 cm−1 were achieved at field strengths of 3 kV/cm.