Enhanced peak power and short pulse operation of planar waveguide CO2 lasers

Authors
Villarreal, F Murray, PR Baker, HJ Hall, DR
Citation
F. Villarreal et al., Enhanced peak power and short pulse operation of planar waveguide CO2 lasers, APPL PHYS L, 78(16), 2001, pp. 2276-2278
Citations number
6
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science
Journal title
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
ISSN journal
00036951 → ACNP
Volume
78
Issue
16
Year of publication
2001
Pages
2276 - 2278
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-6951(20010415)78:16<2276:EPPASP>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
We report a large peak power enhancement and reduction in pulse width for p lanar waveguide carbon dioxide lasers. Gain modulation through rf discharge power switching produces trains of laser pulses with peak power levels at up to 38 times the cw power level, with a pulse duration as low as 10 mus. Operation at repetition rates in the kHz region preserves the average power (100 W) of the normal cw/long pulse mode of operation. The laser is shown to operate close to the predicted boundaries dictated by thermal loading of the discharge. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.