Continuous-wave electron-beam-stabilised CO laser with subsonic flow of the active medium

The basic layout of a cw electron-beam stabilised CO laser is described. The output power of this laser is up to 85 kW, the specific output energy is up to 100 J g^–1, and the efficiency is ~30%. The results are given of investigations of the operation of this laser for periods up to 5 s, including the energy characteristics of the discharge in gas mixtures, and the spectral composition as well as the divergence of the output radiation.