Plasma-sheet CO2 laser

The results are reported of an experimental investigation of the possibility of using a surface discharge plasma as a cathode in a pulse CO₂ laser. A self-sustaining cavity discharge and laser action were achieved in a volume of 0.8 liter at a pressure up to 1.5 atm in the laser mixture. The specific energy output reached 20 J·liter^–1·atm^–1 when the specific energy input was 165 J·liter^–1·atm^–1 and the input efficiency was 12%