COLD ELECTRODE MATERIALS FOR ELECTRIC-DISCHARGE CO LASERS

Laser gas stabilities of a CO laser using electrodes of several kinds of metal materials are investigated. These materials are aluminium, ph osphorus copper, OFHC copper, silver copper, stainless steel, nickel a nd tantalum. From analysis of the adhesion on the surface of the elect rode after discharge, we get the information about the surface variati on, and this can be the basis according to which we can select a suita ble electrode material. We find that tantalum is a relatively good ele ctrode material for CO lasers.