The dependent numerical prediction of CO2 electric discharge laser performance

A two dimensional time dependent numerical model has been developed to predict the performance of the CO2 electrical discharge laser (EDL). The split operator approach is used. MacCormack's method is applied to the homogeneous parts of the fluid dynamic and kinetic equations. A modified Euler method with carefully controlled time steps is used for the 'stiff' homogeneous parts of the equations. These equations are coupled to a physical optics model for the optical power and intensify distribution within the resonator which is solved with fast Fourier transforms. The program was originally developed to study transient phenomena of the continuous wave EDL, particularly an instability involving the gas flow medium and the optical mode, known as mode medium interaction (MMI). The code has been particularly useful for the prediction of pulsed EDL performance and is providing insights to the MMI problem.