GAIN AND SATURATION INTENSITY PARAMETERS IN A TRANSVERSE-FLOW CO2-LASER

Details of an experimental investigation of the output characteristics of the 1.2 kW cw transverse-flow, electrically excited CO2 laser are presented. They were used for estimation of the saturation intensity a nd the laser cavity loss values, as they follow from the Rigrod-type m odel of laser operation, The saturation intensity parameter was calcul ated from measurements of the output power and small signal gain perfo rmed with the same experimental conditions. Measurements of the small signal gain were conducted at different points along the gas flow dire ction for several laser operational parameters described by gas pressu re and input electrical power.