TRANSITIONS BETWEEN GLOW AND ARC MODES AND ITS INFLUENCES TO THE PERFORMANCE OF A HOLLOW-CATHODE DISCHARGE CO2-LASER

Hollow cathode discharge is used for excitation of a CO2 laser. With t he aluminum alloy cathode a maximum laser output power of 4.1 W is obt ained. This laser output power is related to the formation of aluminum oxide at the cathode surface. These oxide layers induce the transitio ns between the glow and are modes of the discharge and formation of mi croarcs at the cathode surface. This was found beneficial for the lase r operation. The results of the time resolved study of the laser param eters are also reported.