Use of reflected electrons to increase the efficiency of electron-beam-ionization lasers

An experimental study is conducted on the reflection of electrons from various materials and the effect of reflected electrons on the operating efficiency of electron-beam-ionization lasers. The average energy is varied over the range 160-180 keV, with a pulse length for the electron beam of about 100 ns. The effect of electrons reflected from the anode on the energy supplied by the discharge to the volume of the high-pressure CO2 laser is also studied. Results indicate that among reflected electrons there are some relatively slow ones with energies of a few tens of kiloelectron volts, and as the pressure is raised, these electrons are stopped in a layer near the electron surface.