Improvement in the energy characteristics of a volume-discharge laser by an anisotropic-resistance cathode

The pressure of the active medium of a TEA CO₂ laser and the energy deposited in this medium were increased by a large factor when a metal cathode was replaced by a currentequalizing cathode made of a material with an anisotropic conductivity. An analysis demonstrated the advantage of such electrodes, compared with those with an isotropic resistance, in prevention of sparking in pulsed volume discharges at atmospheric pressure.