RESONANT-CAVITY EXCITATION SYSTEM FOR RADIAL ARRAY SLAB CO2-LASERS

A rf excitation system that can drive a gas laser constructed of multi ple wide, but narrow-gap (slab), discharge volumes is presented. Reson ant cavity techniques adopted from microwave applications are employed to provide uniform rf power division and impedance matching into each electrode channel. This approach when applied to a large radial array of gain channels can be used to create a very high-power laser system in an unusually compact package. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physi cs.