Pulse-periodic waveguide CO2 laser excited by an ac capacitative discharge

An experimental investigation was made of the operating regimes of a pulse-periodic waveguide CO₂ laser employing diffusive gas cooling and excited by a longitudinal 10 kHz ac capacitative discharge. A specific average radiation output power of 12 W/m was obtained at repetition frequencies of 1 kHz and feasibility of control of the shape of the lasing pulse was demonstrated. The results of these experiments can be used to construct multibeam pulse-periodic CO₂ lasers for heat processing.