Electron-beam-controlled gas-flow CO2 laser

Solutions are obtained describing cw and pulse-periodic lasing regimes in a CO₂ laser with high mean output power. In the pulse-periodic regime the mean power and the repetition frequency are at present limited to 450 W and 33 Hz in a 40×10×10 cm discharge. The laser properties are all described accurately by theoretical expressions obtained on the basis of a four-temperature model. The use of this model, together with the gasdynamic equations, provides a reliable method of predicting the operation of a supersonic-flow laser in the cw regime.