Characteristics of laser emission discharge created by pulsed CO2-laser

The parameters of a laser-emission discharge plasma (lambda = 10.6 micron, I = 10 to the 10th power W/sq cm) and its characteristics as an emf source are investigated. The parameters of the plasma flame created by a pulsed CO2 laser are determined; the expansion rate, concentration and electron temperature during the initial and final stages of expansion are found. The basic characteristics of a laser-emission discharge as a emf source are measured: the amount of emf, the internal resistance and the efficiency, inter alia. It is shown possible to determine the electron temperature during the initial stage of expansion of a plasma flame from the voltage-current characteristic of the discharge.