Investigation of the characteristics of a transversely excited atmospheric-pressure CO2 laser with argon-containing gas mixtures

An experimental study was made of the characteristics of a pulsed CO₂ laser with ultraviolet preionization, utilizing a CO₂–N₂–He–Ar mixture. Partial replacement of helium with argon was possible without deterioration of the energy parameters of the laser. An increase in the delay of a lasing pulse relative to the beginning of a discharge was observed and this resulted in deterioration of the angular divergence of a laser beam.