Stabilization of the parameters of closed-cycle electron-beam-controlled CO2 lasers

A study was made of a closed-cycle electron-beam-controlled CO₂ laser operating in the pulseperiodic regime and using a CO₂–N₂–He mixture with an oxygen content of ~0.2%. It was found that a rapid decrease in the deposited energy was due to the formation of traces of nitrogen dioxide (~10^–3%) in the active mixture. Addition of carbon monoxide in amounts of [CO] – 2[O₂]≥0.1–0.3% and preliminary regeneration of the mixture improved the energy characteristics of the laser and stabilized them at a level 20% higher than the initial values. It was found that constancy of the deposited energy was achieved because of stabilization of the NO₂ content in the mixture.