An attempt was made to detect cosmic ray tracks using a pulsed TEA CO2laser. Within 4 &mgr;sec of the passage of a cosmic ray through a pressurized cell, a laser beam of 4 J/cm2energy density at 10.6 &mgr; was fired. Pure argon and argon‐krypton mixtures were studied at pressures up to 12 atm. Spots of light were seen but no tracks. Laser damage to the cell windows was the limiting factor. An alternative detector using an initial high‐voltage pulse followed by a laser pulse is proposed.