A CO2 gas flow laser with multiple discharge modules places acoustic baffles between the discharge modules to suppress shock waves and ions passing between the discharge modules such as may disrupt the optical path of the laser. A mode register is programmed with a bit that selects a high-power, large-page operating mode or a low-power, small-page operating mode. The method further includes transferring a magnetic pattern to the medium for transfer, and flattening a surface of the lubricating layer of the medium for transfer for which the magnetic pattern transferring is completed.