Initiation of a self-sustained volume discharge in lasers by radioisotopes

A study was made of the characteristic features and of a range of conditions under which the active medium in a gas-discharge laser operating at near-atmospheric pressure can be preionized by means of radioisotopes. The feasibility of this method was demonstrated in the case of a TEA CO₂ laser with preionization by a rays from plutonium sources with a protective coating. Specific input energies up to 400 J·liter^–1·atm^–1 and output energies up to 20–25 J·liter^–1·atm^–1 were obtained. A spark-free operation of a self-sustained volume discharge was realized reliably in a wide range of pressures and compositions of the gas mixture in the laser.