Pumping of high-pressure CO2 laser media via a fast-burst reactor and electrical sustainer

Abstract
The Sandia Pulse Reactor (SPR II) is used to preionize an atmospheric CO2 laser medium with an applied electrical sustainer field. The small‐signal gain and sustainer currents were measured for several mixtures and pressures. Small‐signal gain coefficients approaching 0.04 cm−1 were measured at approximately atmospheric pressures.