Efficient electric-discharge CO2 laser with a prepulse formed by a generator with an inductive energy storage device

Abstract

Results are presented of experimental investigations of a CO2 laser pumped by a self-sustained discharge from a generator with an inductive energy storage device and a semiconductor current chopper. It is shown that the energy stored in the inductance of the discharge circuit can form a prepulse capable of depositing most of the energy in the active mixture for nearoptimum values of the parameter E/p. A radiation energy of 3 J was achieved in an electricdischarge laser with a 0.181 liter active volume with a 17% efficiency relative to the energy stored in the capacitive storage device.