Influence of thermal nonlinearity on the dynamics of radiation from an electron-beam-controlled CO2 laser with an unstable resonator

An investigation was made of thermal nonlinearity of the lasing process in an atmosphericpressure electron-beam-controlled CO₂ laser having an unstable resonator. Experimental and theoretical results are given of an investigation of the optical quality of the active medium and of the field structure in the near-field and far-field zones during a lasing pulse. Good agreement is obtained between the calculated and experimental data.