Influence of the specific pump power on the operating efficiency of an electron-beam-controlled atmospheric pressure CO2 laser

An experimental study was made of the influence of the specific pump power on the operating efficiency of an electron-beam-controlled atmospheric pressure CO₂ laser for fixed near-optimal values of the remaining parameters influencing the laser output energy. It was found that increasing the specific pump power from 2 to 7 kW/cm³ led to a 40% rise in the output energy obtained from a CO₂:N₂:He = 1:6:3 gas mixture.