A sealed, UV-pre-ionisation CO2TEA laser with high peak power output

A long-lived, UV-pre-ionisation CO 2 TEA laser is described which provides pulses (single-transverse mode) of high-output peak power per unit volume of discharge. Peak powers of 1.3 MW in 30-35 ns (FWHM) are obtained from a 10 mm*10 mm*110 mm discharge, corresponding to a peak power output per unit volume eight times greater than that achieved with a trigger-wire-initiated, sealed CO 2 TEA laser. This improvement results largely from the higher CO 2 concentration and greater input energy density, made possible by UV-pre-ionisation of the discharge. Prolonged operation of the sealed laser is achieved at high output peak power levels, using a hot platinum wire catalyst to recombine the CO 2 dissociation products of the discharge.