Self-contained compact electron-beam-controlled CO2 laser operating in the pulse-periodic regime

A description is given of the design and characteristics of an electron-beam-controlled CO₂ laser with an output energy of up to 30 J and a pulse repetition frequency of up to 50 Hz. In the self-contained regime the input and output energies per pulse fell rapidly as the number of pulses increased and then rose and became stabilized at 50–60% of the initial level after 10⁴ pulses. The rise in these parameters was associated with a change in the content of CO, O₂, and the oxides of nitrogen in the active mixture during operation. It was found that stratification of the discharge and its operation in regions of increased electric field resulted in the existence of a prolonged low-current discharge during its final stage of development.