Free-oscillation stimulated emission from an electricdischarge CO2 laser in the nanosecond range of pulse durations

A theoretical and experimenal investigation was made of the possibility of generating light pulses of energy of the order of 1J and nanosecond duration in a freely oscillating CO₂ laser. The pulses obtained were of ~ 10 nsec duration when the laser efficiency was ~ 8%. It was found that the pulse duration depended on the composition of the gas mixture (the CO₂:N₂:He=1:0.5:3 mixture was found to be optimal), resonator length, transparency of the exit mirror, and excess of the total gain of the active medium above the losses.