Method of reducing arcing in a gas transport laser

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The method of reducing arcing in a high power gas transport laser consists of introducing molecular oxygen into the carbon dioxide mixture in which the glow discharge takes place. The oxygen may be in pure form or may be mixed with nitrogen as in air and is admitted to the recirculating gas mixture in predetermined quantities during operation of the laser. The effect of this addition of oxygen to the circulating gas mixture is to prevent the formation of oxide coatings on the copper electrode surfaces, and specifically on the cathode thereby eliminating this cause of arcing in the laser.