A study of the nitrogen laser power density and some design considerations

The laser power density and its time history from a pulsed molecular nitrogen laser are calculated. Their dependence on the fill pressure and on various parameters of an electric circuit, in which the nitrogen gas acts as a variable resistor, is illustrated. It is shown that the peak power density increases in a circuit with low inductance and high capacitor voltage and that the energy density has an optimum at a fill pressure of ~28 Torr. Based on these and the gain calculations, some design considerations are also discussed.