Mechanism of initiation of a homogeneous discharge in double-discharge CO2 lasers

An analysis was made of the characteristics of the radiation emitted by a preliminary corona discharge on the surface of an insulator located on the cathode of the main gap when a homogeneous discharge was initiated in an atmospheric double-discharge CO₂ laser. It was concluded that the double-discharge method was similar in its mechanisms to the initiation methods utilizing a preliminary photoionization of the active mixture.