INFRARED-LUMINESCENCE DIAGNOSTICS OF AN I NDUSTRIAL FAST-FLOW CO2-LASER WITH A CROSSED ELECTRODE SYSTEM

Infrared-luminescence diagnostic, based on vibrational-rotational band s of the CO2 molecule with the wavelengths 2.7 and 4.3 mum, was used i n a study of the spatial structure of the characteristics of the activ e medium of an industrial fast-flow CO2 laser excited by a self-sustai ned glow discharge with orthogonally sectioned electrodes. The distrib utions of the infrared luminescence intensity were determined along an d across the gas flow in the gas-discharge chamber at various heights above the anode. The experimental infrared luminescence data were used to calculate the spatial distribution of the vibrational temperatures of the coupled and asymmetric modes of the CO2 molecule in the downst ream direction. The feasibility of monitoring the output power of an i ndustrial laser on the basis of 4.3 mum infrared luminescence band was demonstrated.