The dynamics of a rotating plasma in a transverse electrode geometry appropriate to high power CO2laser discharge pumping is examined. The magnetohyphen;gashyphen;dynamic fluid model used reveals that the spatially nonuniform electric and magnetic fields within the discharge cause the plasma and neutral gas rotational velocities to be strongly sheared within the cathode fall and the positive column regions. This sheared rotation serves to both stabilize the discharge against glow to arc transitions and to drive a centrifugal neutral gas flow within the volume. The concomitant bulk gas cooling effect so produced is particularly beneficial in a high powered CO2electrical discharge laser as it inhibits thermal bottle necking. An order of magnitude increase in discharge power loading has been achieved utilizing a simple rsquo;rsquo;magnetic electrodersquo;rsquo; discharge configuration.
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