Folded-path atmospheric-pressure CO2laser

A folded-path transversely excited atmospheric-pressure CO
2
laser utilizing shower or brush discharges is described. The output pulse has an initial peak 0.4 μs wide followed by a tail
2-3 \mu
s long. A peak power of 0.2 MW with 4.4 percent efficiency is obtained. By rotating one of the mirrors of the resonator the tail is eliminated, yielding a pulse 0.2 μs wide of the same peak power.