Tunable CO2 waveguide laser
Abstract
Results are reported for experiments performed with waveguide CO2 lasers using BeO waveguides. A mixture of Xe, N2, CO2, and He constituted the active medium; the relative amounts of CO2, Xe, and N2 were chosen to optimize the gain, while the ratio of CO2 and He was varied over a broad range. It is found that the tuning range is maximized at a discharge current density of 100 mA/sq cm, which corresponds to the maximum gain regardless of total pressure, mixture composition, or waveguide cross section, and that the output power is generally maximized at a high discharge current. The quantitative relation between tuning range and the parameters of the active medium and the cavity is determined. It is concluded that the upper limit to the tuning range for a laser with a cross section of 1 x 1 mm is 1.5 GHz and that the tuning range decreases as the cross section is increased, due to a reduction in gain.
- Publication:
-
Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki
- Pub Date:
- September 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978ZhTFi..48.1903G
- Keywords:
-
- Carbon Dioxide Lasers;
- Continuous Wave Lasers;
- Optical Waveguides;
- Tuning;
- Beryllium Oxides;
- Gas Mixtures;
- Gas Pressure;
- Nitrogen;
- Rectangular Waveguides;
- Xenon;
- Lasers and Masers