Compact sealed TEA CO2lasers with corona-discharge preionization

Optimization of the performance of compact sealed TEA CO
2
lasers employing a novel version of the corona-discharge preionization scheme is reported. Performance with high oxygen concentrations, long-life operation with organic additives, limits of arc-free operation with gas mixtures without helium, and in the presence of high CO
2
concentrations have been investigated. Our results show that devices whose construction is considerably simplified by employing this preionization technique are capable of producing performance superior to more complex systems.