Pulsed CO2 laser pumped by a self-sustained volume discharge and preionized by soft x-ray radiation

An investigation was made of a pulsed electric-discharge CO₂ laser utilizing soft x-ray preionization. The discharge and lasing characteristics were compared when the discharge was initiated by soft x-ray and ultraviolet radiation. The advantages were demonstrated of employing soft x-ray radiation for large apertures (20 cm) and also for mixtures containing up to 40% of molecular gases. A laser output energy of 350 J was then achieved.