Intracavity beam behavior in hybrid resonator planar-waveguide CO2 lasers

We describe a combined computer simulation and experimental investigation o f the intracavity spatial beam profile characteristics of a planar-waveguid e rf-excited CO, laser that incorporates a hybrid waveguide confocal unstab le negative-branch resonator. The study includes results for the intracavit y lateral beam intensity profile and output power of the laser as a functio n of resonator mirror misalignment. In addition, the behavior of the unstab le resonator, observed experimentally and predicted by the simulation, in g enerating localized high intensity hot-spots when it is subjected to relati vely large misalignment angles is reported. (C) 2000 Optical Society of Ame rica OCIS codes: 140.0140, 140.3410, 140.3070, 140.3470.