Abstract

Since discovery of the transverse excitation of atmospheric-pressure CO₂ lasers, several techniques have been developed to produce high-pressure glow discharges. Among the simplest and most compact devices, UV radiation is used to condition the gas before and/or during the discharge. In most types of device the UV radiation is produced by a separate discharge such as by trigger wires or separate UV sources. These constaints have generally had a significant effect on the size, cost, and performance characteristics of these devices.

© 1982 Optical Society of America