ABSTRACT
One of the most effective ways of pumping a gas mixture in laser facilities is electric discharge. Vibrational energy levels of the working gas are excited by direct collision with the electrons and ions of a current or, more apparently and effectively indirectly, by collision with the atoms and molecules of other gases excited directly by the current. A glow discharge is a type of discharge that is most widely used in laser technologies. The glow discharge is a self-sustained discharge with a cold cathode, emitting electrons as a result of secondary emission, mainly under the action of positive ions. A discharge with short pulses is more stable than that with long pulses or DC discharge because during the shorter pulse there is not enough time for random fluctuation to develop into the contracting line. The stability of the discharge can be enhanced by adding designing elements. They are located in an electric circuit serially with the discharge.
