THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF A WAVE-GUIDE CO2-LASER WITH RADIOFREQUENCY EXCITATION

A comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of the optimization of a continuous-wave radiofrequency (rf) excited CO2 waveguide laser is presented. The numerical simulation includes the modelling of the g as-discharge plasma parameters like the plasma impedance and energy de position, the laser kinetics and finally the influence of the resonato r feedback on the lasing process. Along with this theoretical study, a n extensive experimental research program enabled us to optimize the l aser performance of the CO2 waveguide laser. As a result, a total outp ut power of 42 W and a specific output power of 1.1 W/cm were obtained .