Dynamic profiling of an electric field in the case of formation of a volume selfsustained discharge under conditions of strong ionization of the electrode regions

It was found that a volume self-sustained discharge could be ignited in a system of two electrodes with sharp edges under conditions of strong ionization of the electrode regions. The conditions for such ignition were determined. A discharge of this kind could be used in compact CO₂ lasers with apertures up to 30 cm and specific output energies up to 48 J/liter when preionization was provided by radiation from commercial flashlamps with quartz bulbs.