A compact low-voltage TEA-N₂laser

Abstract

A compact TEA-N2 laser has been designed using a double-fold, two-stage Blumlein circuit which enabled operation at low voltage (4.5-7.5 kV) and a laser channel gap of 1 mm. An output energy of 150-370 µJ per pulse was obtained and its average electrical-to-optical conversion efficiency of about 0.06% was comparable to the values reported for most compact TEA-N2 lasers operated at 15-40 kV.