The photoinitiated impulse-enhanced electrically excited (PIE) discharge for high-power cw laser applications

Abstract
The application of high‐repetition‐rate photoionized TEA laser techniques to continuous wave CO2 lasers is described. A PIE discharge approach is shown to provide a simple and convenient method for production of uniform large‐volume high‐density plasmas, suitable for continuous high‐powered CO2 laser operation. The approach may be suitable for discharge‐pumped noble‐gas–halide lasers.