A sealed 100-Hz CO2TEA laser using high CO2concentrations and ambient-temperature catalysts

Prolonged operation of compact sealed CO 2 TEA lasers has been achieved at pulsed repetition frequencies up to 100 Hz, with the high CO 2 levels (50% and above) needed for maximum peak power output per unit discharge volume. This has hitherto been prevented by the inability to recombine the dissociation products CO and O 2 rapidly enough in high-CO 2 , high-PRF conditions. This has now been achieved through the first use of an unheated SnO 2 -Pd catalyst (active at -26°C) placed in the mainstream of gas circulated inside the laser. More than 2.5 × 10 6 pulses have been obtained, with no evidence of a limit to the life through decline in catalyst activity or deterioration of the gas discharge