A segmented waveguide formed by a periodic system of pairs of wedge prisms
with a gap between them is proposed. The prisms are made of single-crystal
sapphire for which the refraction index v < 1 for CO2 laser radiation (lamb
da = 10.6 mu m). The attenuation of 0.1 db/m can be estimated for a 5 mm di
ameter radiation beam for which the Rayleigh distance is approximately 1 m.
The gap between adjacent prisms can be useful in FEL-like applications. (C
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