Comparison of Direct and Discharge Pumping in CO2 Lasers

Abstract

Recent publications1,2 propose pumping gas lasers at the expense of only the kinetic energy of electrons produced when energetic particles from an external source pass through the laser cavity. This concept, which we call direct pumping, envisions no additional electrical sources, distinguishing it from nuclear augmentation2,3 and the e-beam sustained discharge technique4 with which it is here compared. Calculations performed for a CO2 laser indicate that excitation by direct pumping is relatively ineffective and probably incapable of producing significant gain in CO2 with nuclear sources conveniently available.