Excitation of ruby lasers by means of double‐pumped high‐intensity helical flashtubes of approximately 10−4sec flash duration is described. Electrical discharge parameters for double‐pulse operation of the helical flashtubes were correlated experimentally and theoretically with maximum loading possible for such tubes. Time‐resolved spectra of such discharges were obtained and plasma temperatures were computed from the xenon continuum. Temperatures thus computed varied from 1 to 2 eV and were correlated with peak discharge currents. The laser energy obtained from such excitation of rubies was found to be the same as that from normal (1 msec or longer) discharges having the same pump energy, but the power in the laser beam was proportionately increased with the decrease in the excitation time.