Pumping of electron-beam-controlled $CO_2$ lasers with maximum efficiency of the electron beam utilization

A report is given of a comprehensive theoretical optimization of the parameters of excitation pulses in electron-beam-controlled $CO_2$ lasers. The aim of the optimization procedure is to maximize the efficiency of utilization of the electron beam. Calculations are made of the optimal pump pulse duration and resonator transparency, and also of the optimal specific input energy. It is shown that under optimal conditions at field intensities below the threshold for the appearance of streamer breakdown of the discharge gap the efficiency of utilization of the electron beam can reach $\xi\approx200-300$, i.e., the laser pulse energy $Q$ can be 200-300 times greater than the energy used to ionize the laser mixture.