The laser power density and its time history from a pulsed molecular nitrogen laser are calculated. Their dependence on the fill pressure and on various parameters of an electric circuit, in which the nitrogen gas acts as a variable resistor, is illustrated. It is shown that the peak power density increases in a circuit with low inductance and high capacitor voltage and that the energy density has an optimum at a fill pressure of -28 Torr. Based on these and the gain calculations, some design considerations are also discussed. © 1969 Optical Society of America.