Atmospheric-Pressure Pulsed CO2 Laser Utilizing Preionization by High-Energy Electrons

Abstract

An atmospheric-pressure pulsed CO2 laser is described in which the gas is preionized by the injection of high-energy electrons into the laser volume. These electrons are derived from a high-voltage (120-kV) glow discharge surrounding the laser. The preionization achieved has allowed 300 J to be delivered to 1. 7 liter of gas in a single discharge without the development of arcs, irrespective of whether the gas contained helium. The highest output energy (20 J) was obtained with a mixture of CO2, N2, and He in the proportions 3 : 3 : 4 by volume.