High-power transverse-discharge ultraviolet nitrogen laser without gas circulation

A high-power (pulse power 1 MW, average power 350 mW) transverse-discharge ultraviolet nitrogen laser was operated in the sealed regime. This laser was subjected to a life test for a period of 550 h ($10^8$ pulses) at an average power of 250 mW. During the test the power remained practically constant. The main factor limiting the service life of the laser was absorption of the nitrogen, amounting to $5\cdot10^{13}$ molecules per pulse for a storage-capacitor energy of 9 J.