Effect of the unstable resonator length on the divergence of the emission of an atmospheric-pressure CO2 laser
Abstract
It has been suggested in an earlier study (Basov et al., 1985) that an increase in the beam divergence of a pulsed atmospheric-pressure CO2 laser with an unstable resonator is mainly a result of stimulated absorption scattering in the active medium. Consequently, the divergence could be effectively decreased by increasing the resonator length. In the present study, the beam divergence of an atmospheric-pressure photoionization CO2 laser is investigated experimentally as a function the resonator length and the length of the pumping pulse. It is found that, in practice, an increase in the length of an unstable resonator does not lead to an increase in the axial brightness of the emission due to a drop in output energy.
- Publication:
-
Pisma v Zhurnal Tekhnischeskoi Fiziki
- Pub Date:
- February 1987
- Bibcode:
- 1987PZhTF..13..240G
- Keywords:
-
- Carbon Dioxide Lasers;
- Divergence;
- Optical Resonators;
- Thermal Blooming;
- Atmospheric Pressure;
- Gas Mixtures;
- Length;
- Optical Pumping;
- Pulsed Lasers;
- Lasers and Masers