A pulsed tranversely excited CO2waveguide laser

We have designed a CO
2
waveguide laser that can produce pulses with durations of about 15 μs, and pulse energies up to 0.7 mJ, with a maximum laser efficiency of about 1.5 percent, and capable of working at pressures up to about
\frac{1}/{2}
atm. The laser head and the discharge system that excites the laser gas are described. Some physical limitations of the efficiency and the laser energy are also described.