New Developments In High-Power CW Discharge Multikilohertz Repetition Rate CO[sub]2[/sub] Lasers

C. D'Ambrosio; W. Fuss; W. E. Schmid; S. Trushin; K. L. Kompa

doi:10.1117/12.950499

20 June 1989 New Developments In High-Power CW Discharge Multikilohertz Repetition Rate CO₂ Lasers

C. D'Ambrosio, W. Fuss, W. E. Schmid, S. Trushin, K. L. Kompa

Proceedings Volume 1031, 7th Intl Symp on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers; (1989) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.950499
Event: 7th International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers, 1988, Vienna, Austria

Abstract

Based on a continuous discharge slow gasflow CO. laser a high peak power, medium average power, high repetition rate laser has been developed. The system consists of a Q-switched oscillator plus a subsequent laser amplifier. Q-switching is done by a fast spinning chopper disk placed in the focal plane of an intracavity cylindrical telescope. Almost 500 W of average laser power have been achieved in the pulsed mode at 20 kHz repetition rate from laser tubes rated for 1 kW power in cw oscillator mode. Single pulse energies are 27 mJ to 50 mJ ( depending on duration of the tail) at repetition rates up to 10 kHz on line 9P(20). Up to to 50 kHz are easily achievable at reduced single pulse energy. Pulse duration is 200 ns (FWHM). The peak power of 150 kW is more than one order of magnitude higher than that with discharge current switching techniques in low pressure lasers. Therefore lasers of this type are suitable for applications in nonlinear processes like IR photochemistry or material processing without sacrificing much of the advantages of cw lasers as compared to TEA lasers. Investigations on stored energy, dependence on repetition rate, self oscillation problems, switching speed requirements and scaling properties are also reported.

Citation Download Citation

C. D'Ambrosio, W. Fuss, W. E. Schmid, S. Trushin, and K. L. Kompa "New Developments In High-Power CW Discharge Multikilohertz Repetition Rate CO₂ Lasers", Proc. SPIE 1031, 7th Intl Symp on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers, (20 June 1989); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.950499

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