MICROWAVE EXCITED HIGH-POWER CW CO LASER AT ROOM-TEMPERATURE

A microwave excited high power CO laser operating at room temperature is described. Maximal output power of 240 W, or 800 W/m with an extrac tion efficiency of 8% is achieved using a 30 cm long microwave dischar ge. The laser gas mixture (CO:N2:He:Xe: O2 = 8.5:7.5:79.1:4.5:0.4 (%)) recirculates in a closed loop through the discharge tube with a rate of typically 2000 m3/h at a pressure of 4 kPa. The laser gas is cooled down to an inlet temperature of 18-degrees-C by water operated heat e xchangers. Results from this work demonstrate the possibility of high power operation of a CO laser at room temperature. Improvements both i n the extraction efficiency and the output power appear possible by in creasing the microwave power input.