Formative time lags in CO2 laser discharges

Time lags for the growth of power input, i.e., formative time lags, have been measured in typical CO2 laser gas mixtures at pressures from 200 to 760 Torr using parallel plane electrodes with the 1- and 2-cm gaps illuminated by a trigger discharge. The measured time lags are about twice the values predicted using a single avalanche growth model and theoretical ionization and attachment coefficients.