Supersonic transverse electrical discharge laser

An electrically excited CO
2
-N
2
laser has been developed using high repetition rate discharge pulses from a pin electrode array transverse to a supersonic flow. To date volumetric laser power density of 34 W/cm
³
from a Mach 3 flow at 17-kHz repetition rate and 160-torr static pressure has been achieved. Power densities of at least 150 W/cm
³
at atmospheric pressure appear possible. The supersonic blowdown facility and electrical pulse generator are described and experimental results are discussed.