Short pulse formation in a TEA CO2 laser using a CO2 – N2 – H2 gas mixture

The use of an optimal CO₂ – N₂ – H₂ gas mixture with a high concentration of hydrogen (30% – 40%) was shown to allow the formation of high-power TEA CO₂-laser pulses with a base duration of ~ 200 ns whose energy and peak power significantly exceed the parameters of pulses obtained in binary CO₂ – H₂ mixtures. Considering all the parameters, the helium-free 56% CO₂ – 14% N₂ – 30% H₂ gas mixture at a pressure of 0.7 atm is optimal for the generation of short high-power pulses in the TEA CO₂ laser. A small addition of nitrogen ([CO₂]/[N₂] ~ 10 – 12) to the binary CO₂ – H₂ mixture not only substantially increases the pulse energy and peak power (by a factor of 3 – 3.5) but also shortens their duration at half-maximum with retention of the total (base) duration.