摘要 |
An atmospheric laser which is transversely excited includes main and preliminary discharge electrodes. Life of laser gas used to promote ionization between the main discharge electrodes is lengthened by providing a sufficient number of preliminary discharge electrodes, at a distance sufficiently close to the main discharge electrodes to promote preliminary ionization in a preliminary discharge space, prior to discharge in the main discharge space. According to preferred embodiments of the invention, one of the rare gases such as He is provided in the preliminary discharge space, and a mixture of CO2, N2, and He is provided in the main discharge. In order to enable the preliminary discharge electrodes to be closer to the main discharge electrodes, air may be used in place of one of the rare gases in the preliminary discharge space, so that the overall apparatus may be made yet smaller.
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