Dissociation of carbon dioxide in sealed-off CO{sub 2} waveguide lasers with radio-frequency excitation

A mathematical model describing the dissociation of carbon dioxide in sealed-off CO{sub 2} waveguide and slit lasers with radio-frequency excitation is presented. The theoretically calculated degrees of dissociation of CO{sub 2} were tested experimentally. It was demonstrated theoretically and experimentally that the degree of dissociation increases by 5% - 10% with increase in the specific pump power. It was established that the degree of dissociation of carbon dioxide in lasers with the slit design of the discharge channel was approximately 1.5 times higher than in the usual waveguide lasers. (active media)