Pulse-periodic CO2 laser with a non-self-sustaining discharge

A report is given of the parameters of a pulse-periodic CO₂ laser with an active volume of 0.8 liter and a non-self-sustaining discharge. A description is given of a gas-pumping system, a power supply of the main discharge gap, and an electron accelerator producing a ribbon-like (40×500 mm) electron beam of 4 A/cm² current density and 36 nsec pulse duration. The specific output power of this laser was up to 150 W/liter, the pulse repetition frequency up to 16 Hz, and the pulse energy up to 10 J.