Oscillations in a gas-laser discharge (review)

An investigation is made of the main properties of regular oscillations in a gas-laser discharge. The theoretical principles are discussed and the experimental verification of the theory is considered with particular reference to the He-Ne laser. The importance of discharge instabilities is identified among other technical fluctuations in gas lasers. An analysis is made of the effect of discharge oscillations on the amplitude and frequency characteristics of a gas laser. A separate investigation is made of oscillations in the discharge of a ring gas laser and methods of preventing these oscillations are examined.