HIGH-POWER CO2-LASER WITH COAXIAL WAVE-GUIDE AND DIFFUSION COOLING

A diffusion-cooled CO2 laser using a coaxial waveguide is analyzed the oretically and experimentally. The resonator extracting the laser beam consists of two annular plane mirrors enclosing the two ends of the w aveguide. The beam exits through an aperture in one of these annular m irrors. The mirror tilt is shown to provide efficient beam extraction through this aperture. A theoretical resonator model based on the vect or modes of propagation in a dielectric coaxial waveguide is presented . Experimental data show the feasibility of coaxial waveguide lasers a nd their ability to supply beams of high power and quality. Experiment al data are discussed with respect to the presented theory.