High-power cw ion lasers with an improved service life

An experimental study was made of producing stable high-current (~400 A) low-pressure discharges in cw gas-ion lasers. Main attention was given to the reliability of the various parts of high-current discharge tubes. The results of the experiments were used in building a prototype of a high-power ion laser (designated MIL-1) with a service life of ~1000 h and visible radiation output power Up to 300 W.