High-power pulsed dense-gas lasers

Research works on pulsed dense-gas lasers co-authored by A. M. Prokhorov are reviewed, and an analysis is made of the significance of this research for the subsequent development of high-power gas lasers. The emphasis is placed on the investigation of CO₂ lasers pumped with an e-beam-controlled discharge, an e-beam-pumped argon – nitrogen mixture laser, and also exciplex lasers utilising rare-gas halides.