Self-circulation regime in a plasma laser

An analysis is made of self-circulation of the laser medium through the active volume when the energy for the translational motion of the gas is drawn from the thermal energy released in the active volume. An expression is derived for the maximum specific power for which the gas is not heated above the critical temperature which results in quenching of the laser action. An analysis is made of the efficiency of the thermal cycle when the heater is the laser active zone with optimized self-circulation.