Effect of photolysis on seeding gases in a TEA CO2 laser

In the reported investigation regarding the effects of photolysis on seeding gases in a TEA carbon dioxide laser, use is made of normal-propylalcohol (NPA) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA). NPA and IPA have similar ionization potentials, and under UV irradiation they are dissociated into their subseeding gases. On the basis of the obtained results, it is concluded that the photolysis of seeding gases and the ionization potential of the new subseeding gases play an important part in the production of the electron density in a CO2 laser using seeding gases. It is pointed out that until now, tri-n-propylamine has been used as the best suited seeding gas. It is proposed to select a more effective seeding gas than tri-n-propylamine on the basis of a survey of the ionization potentials.