High Voltage Pulse Excitation of CO2 and CO2-N2 Lasers,

Abstract : Past experiments have shown that peak pulse power in CO2-type laser systems increased as a function of pressure up to the limit of the voltage available for discharging the laser tube; consequently, it appeared appropriate to greatly increase the voltage for firing the laser so as to generate peak powers on the order of hundreds of kilowatts or possibly megawatts. In this study it was shown that peak power pulses in the range of several megawatts may be obtained in pure CO2 or CO2-helium mixtures. The important parameters in pulsed electrical excitation of CO2-type lasers appear to be the value of current and the potential drop through which the electrons are accelerated, that is, the number and energy distribution (electron temperature) of the electrons in the discharge. (Author)