Space discharge and gas lasers

The main processes in TE lasers are analyzed. Significant attention is given to models for the formation of a homogeneous plasma column and space charge. The reasons for channel growth at the stage of increasing voltage are demonstrated. A method to increase the energy input to the gas using a cathode with high emission properties is proposed. It is demonstrated that, in TEA CO2 lasers, the limiting deposited and radiated energy densities may amount to 1.35 and 0.085 J/cm(3), respectively. Experimental results show that the duration of radiation can be increased using a variation in the composition and pressure of the active medium, the sectionalization of the active medium and the sequential excitation of the sections, and the excitation of the medium with a pulse train at a small (about 10(7) s) pulse duration and an interpulse interval of about 10(-5) s.