Reduction in the duration of pulses emitted from atmospheric-pressure CO2 lasers

A study was made of the possibility of reducing the duration of output pulses of atmospheric-pressure CO₂ lasers by quenching stimulated emission (as a result of intracavity breakdown) and pulse sharpening (as a result of extracavity burning of metallized films). Pulses of 10 nsec duration at midamplitude with 3–4 nsec edges were obtained in this way.