Double Discharge Excitation for Atmospheric Pressure CO2 Lasers

Abstract

The problems encountered in the electrical excitation of pulsed CO2 lasers operating at atmospheric pressure are briefly reviewed, with some solutions developed at the Defence Research Establishment Valcartier, and their limitations. A new approach, based on a double transverse discharge technique, has permitted the design of a 3.8 m long laser which delivered up to 9 J/pulse with a peak power of 12 MW. An output energy density of 5.5 mJ/cm3 of excited gas has been achieved.