PATTERN COMPETITION IN A HIGH-POWER CO2-LASER DUE TO OPTOGALVANIC MODULATION OF THE PUMP PROFILE

Citation
Ft. Arecchi et al., PATTERN COMPETITION IN A HIGH-POWER CO2-LASER DUE TO OPTOGALVANIC MODULATION OF THE PUMP PROFILE, Optical engineering, 33(1), 1994, pp. 97-101
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
Optics
Journal title
ISSN journal
00913286
Volume
33
Issue
1
Year of publication
1994
Pages
97 - 101
Database
ISI
SICI code
0091-3286(1994)33:1<97:PCIAHC>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
Experimental evidence of periodic alternation of different transverse modes in a high-power CO, laser is interpreted in terms of local cooli ng of the discharge column, which corresponds to the maximum emitted i ntensity. Optogalvanic coupling between emitted intensity and local di scharge impedance values yields a transverse redistribution of dischar ge current and, hence, of laser gain. Thus, besides the fast feedback provided by the cavity, with high-power lasers one must account also f or a slow global feedback because of the optogalvanic effects.