Direct conversion of CO2 laser energy to high-voltage electrical energy using a laser-produced plasma

High-voltage high-current pulses of electrical energy (700 V, 14 A, 10 kW) are generated with efficiencies greater than 0.1% for a duration of 30 nsec when a 3–4-J CO2 TEA laser is focused on a copper cathode in a special vacuum cell designed to collect the ejected high-energy electrons. Potential applications as a high-voltage source and as a detector are discussed.