The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the

Patricia A Paulin

David R Schryer

Kenneth G Brown

Billy T Upchurch

George M Wood

Irvin M Miller

Barry D Sidney

Robert V Hess

A method for the reactivation of a tin oxide-containing catalyst of a CO.sub.2 laser is provided. First, the catalyst is pretreated by a standard procedure. When the catalyst experiences diminished activity during usage, the heated zone surrounding the catalyst is raised to a temperature which is the operating temperature of the laser and 400.degree. C. for approximately one hour. The catalyst is exposed to the same laser gas mixture during this period. The temperature of the heated zone is then lowered to the operating temperature of the CO.sub.2 laser.

Reactivation of a tin oxide-containing catalyst

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Hampton, VA, United States of America

Patricia A Paulin