Pulsed CO2 laser pumped by a self-sustained volume discharge

A study was made of the characteristics of a pulsed CO₂ laser pumped by a self-sustained discharge in an active volume of 24.3 liter and with a cross sectional area of the discharge region in excess of 100 cm². An output energy of 26 J/liter with an efficiency of 16% was achieved for CO₂–N₂–He mixtures. Introduction of easily ionizable substances into the gas mixture made it possible to increase the laser efficiency to 25%. The specific output energy then increased to 47 J/liter.