Carbon dioxide electric-discharge laser with preionization of the active volume by auxiliary spark discharges

Spark discharges on both sides of the main gap were used for the preionization of the gas in a 0.4-liter pulsed CO₂ laser. The gap was formed by two monolithic metal electrodes. An output energy of 9 J was obtained at a pressure of 600 mm Hg for a CO₂ : N₂ : He = 1 : 1 : 2 mixture.