Scalability of rf gas discharges for high-power CO2 lasers

W. Pfeiffer; K. Breining; R. Paul; Nianle Wu; Adolf Giesen; Helmut Huegel

doi:10.1117/12.184573

16 August 1994 Scalability of rf gas discharges for high-power CO₂ lasers

W. Pfeiffer, K. Breining, R. Paul, Nianle Wu, Adolf Giesen, Helmut Huegel

Proceedings Volume 2206, High-Power Gas and Solid State Lasers; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.184573
Event: Europto High Power Lasers and Laser Applications V, 1994, Vienna, Austria

Abstract

For the development of compact high-power CO₂ lasers high input power densities in discharge tubes with sufficiently large cross sections are required. To achieve a uniform distribution of power deposition into the laser gas flowing in tubes with typically circular cross sections an appropriate electrode shaping is necessary. For this reason, experimental and theoretical investigations have been performed in a wide range of input power, starting from values typical for todays CO₂ lasers up to very high levels. Different electrode shapes have been used for optimized stability and homogeneity of the discharge in order to minimize the distortion of the intra-cavity wavefront. The occurrence of filaments limits the range of a stable discharge operation. The homogeneity of the discharge has been assessed by means of spatially resolved small signal gain measurements. Further, the homogeneity of the discharge as a prerequisite for minimal phase distortion has been investigated using an interferometer. A discharge with 17 kW input power at 13.56 MHz in a single tube element is presented showing a flat profile of the small signal gain and a phase distortion of 0.21 micrometers .

Citation Download Citation

W. Pfeiffer, K. Breining, R. Paul, Nianle Wu, Adolf Giesen, and Helmut Huegel "Scalability of rf gas discharges for high-power CO₂ lasers", Proc. SPIE 2206, High-Power Gas and Solid State Lasers, (16 August 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.184573

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