Vol. 11, issue 02-03, article # 5

Abstract:

We have developed a TEA CO₂-laser operating at the atmospheric pressure in which the electric discharge occurs inside the region confined by three electrodes that make up two discharge gaps connected in a series, with the storage capacitor being coupled to two outer electrodes. The initiation of a self-maintained volume electric discharge (SMVED) is performed, in this scheme, by applying successively in time of high-voltage pulses to the central electrode. As shown in this paper the electric discharge circuitry and that type of the operation mode enable one to form the SMVED that provides for depositing up to 250 J/(lЧatm) energy density at a high efficiency of the active medium excitation. In this arrangement of the electric circuitry the voltage for charging the capacitor storage to the voltage at which the SMVED is formed is from 0.6 to 0.9 of the static breakdown voltage that makes only 1 to 3% of the pumping energy. The use of that type of electric circuitry in a pulse-periodic mode of operation would allow one to drastically (about ten-fold) decrease the load of the SMVED power supply commutators while simultaneously providing for an efficient excitation of the laser active medium.