Electrode configuration and power output for a transverse flow CO ₂ laser

The electrode configuration of a recently designed transverse flow laser comprised two parallel, water-cooled copper tubes, perpendicular to gas flow and parallel to the laser axis. The electrode distance was 60 mm and the electrode length 800 nm. The gas composition and pressure for maximum power output (700W) were He:7 torr; N2; 4 torr; CO₂: 3.5 torr. The flow velocity of the gas was about 40 ms^-1. The discharge voltage and current were 900 V and 12 A respectively, and the output mirror reflectivity 36%. It is shown that efficiency peaks with increase in input power and gas velocity.