Characteristics of a transverse-flow CO laser excited by RF-Discharge

We have developed a compact, efficient kW-class CO laser excited by transverse radio frequency (RF) discharge. The discharge and output characteristics of the RF-excited CO laser were investigated and were compared with those of the DC-excited one. The RF discharge power at 13.56 MHz was supplied to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE journal of quantum electronics 1994-06, Vol.30 (6), p.1448-1454
Main Authors: Kanazawa, H., Matsuzaka, F., Uehara, M., Kasuya, K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
426002 - Engineering- Lasers & Masers- (1990-)
CARBON MONOXIDE LASERS
Chemical lasers
Cooling
DATA
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
ENGINEERING
Exact sciences and technology
EXCITATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
Fiber lasers
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
GAS LASERS
INFORMATION
Laser beam cutting
Laser excitation
Laser stability
LASERS
MIXTURES
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
Optics
OXYGEN
Physics
Power generation
Power lasers
Radio frequency
RF SYSTEMS
Temperature
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Summary:We have developed a compact, efficient kW-class CO laser excited by transverse radio frequency (RF) discharge. The discharge and output characteristics of the RF-excited CO laser were investigated and were compared with those of the DC-excited one. The RF discharge power at 13.56 MHz was supplied to a discharge volume of 40H/spl times/35W/spl times/280L (mm/sup 3/). Utilization of the RF excitation instead of the DC excitation enhanced the maximum input power, the electrical conversion efficiency and the beam quality. Six gas conditions (pressure, temperature, flow speed, and the concentrations of CO, N/sub 2/, and O/sub 2/) were chosen as the experimental parameters. The optimum values of the gas parameters to maximize the output power were 50 torr, 200 K, 17 m/s, 5%, 12% and 0.4% respectively. The maximum output power obtained was 1.32 kW, with an electrical conversion efficiency of 27% and a slope efficiency of 39%. The specific laser power, which characterizes the scaling law of a transverse-flow laser, was 4.6 kW/m for the length, and 3.3 W/cm/sup 3/ for the volume.< >
ISSN:0018-9197
1558-1713
DOI:10.1109/3.299468