Effect of a heated platinum wire on a sealed CO2laser system

A heated platinum wire was used in a sealed CO2-N2-He laser system, resulting in increases in output power that were dependent on the initial fill pressure of CO2. The system was also filled with a CO2-He mixture and made to lase. Heating of the platinum wire caused a decrease in output power. It was tentatively concluded that the platinum catalyzes the reaction CO + O → CO2, permitting a higher concentration of CO2in a sealed system than is otherwise possible.