Deposits in a sealed-off CO2laser-type discharge

In a sealed-off CO
2
laser, deposits are formed from the gas mixture. The removal of the gas in this way limits the lifetime of the laser. Fragments of these deposits are analyzed mass spectrometrically and their possible composition is given. After the discharge tube was pumped down, the gases released from the walls were analyzed. CO
2
was observed and it was apparently trapped at the walls.