Parameter limits of thermal instabilities in high frequency CO2-Laser discharges

A simple formula giving parameter limits for stable operation with respect to thermal instabilities of high frequency excitation of C02 laser discharges is derived from a discharge model including the continuity equation for the electron density and the neutral gas density, the energy equation for the neutral gas and Amperes law for the electric field. A limiting value of the product of the neutral gas density and the discharge width must not be exceeded for stable discharge operation. This limiting value depends on the thermal conductivity, which can greatly be enhanced by a turbulent gas flow, on the gas ternperatur, on the excitation frequency and some further quantities.