Preionization CO2 laser operating in the active zone of a stationary nuclear reactor

Pulse and continuous stimulated emission was obtained from a preionization CO₂ laser operating in the active zone of a stationary nuclear reactor. A gas mixture of the CO₂:N₂:³He = 1:4:5 composition was ionized by the products of the ³He (n, p)T reaction. The parameters of a non-self-sustaining discharge excited in the active region were determined and the threshold characteristics were found of an atmospheric-pressure laser preionized by fluxes up to 10¹⁴ neutrons·cm^–2·sec^–1.