A compact low‐power long‐life sealed‐off cw CO2laser has been developed by incorporating a catalyst‐coated outer jacket that helps to regenerate CO2from the dissociation products formed during discharge. Maintaining the catalyst at an optimized temperature prevented CO2adsorption in its bulk and resulted in the required level of CO oxidation activity. The laser system has been operated during the day for the past five months at a constant output level of about 4 W. The gas analysis performed at different catalyst temperatures suggests that although the presence of CO in large amounts is detrimental, an optimum concentration of carbon monoxide supports the CO2laser operation. ©1994 American Institute of Physics.