Amplification of picosecond 10 µm pulses in multiatmosphere CO2lasers

Picosecond pulses, generated by semiconductor switching (2-40 ps), have been regeneratively amplified to an energy density of ∼1.5 J/cm
²
in a multiatmosphere CO
2
laser. The characteristics of the amplified pulses have been investigated as a function of wavelength, pulse duration, and the pressure in the gain medium. Using a high-power pulse compression technique, 10 μm pulses as short as 600 fs have been obtained.