Wide-aperture CO2 laser pumped by a volume non-self-sustained discharge characterized by short ionization pulses

An investigation was made of the characteristics of the operation of a CO₂ laser pumped by a volume non-self-sustained discharge maintained by short (~ 1 μs) pulses of a fast-electron beam. The duration of the external ionization pulses did not exceed half the energy deposition time and the discharge could receive at least 90% of the stored energy. A specific input energy up to 500 J/liter in a working volume of ~60 liters and a specific output energy up to 45 J/liter were achieved.