Microwave-discharge-excited CO2 laser using orthogonal electric fields

Koichi Saito; Makoto Kato; Hiroyoshi Yajima; Nobuaki Furuya; Minoru Kimura; Shigeki Yamane

doi:10.1117/12.271550

4 April 1997 Microwave-discharge-excited CO₂ laser using orthogonal electric fields

Koichi Saito, Makoto Kato, Hiroyoshi Yajima, Nobuaki Furuya, Minoru Kimura, Shigeki Yamane

Proceedings Volume 2987, Gas and Chemical Lasers and Applications II; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.271550
Event: Photonics West '97, 1997, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

We have developed a high-power microwave discharge excited carbon-dioxide laser oscillator by using a newly developed method called the orthogonal electric fields method in which the vibration direction of an electric field changes over time for achievement of a homogeneously spread electric discharge. A homogeneously spread electric discharge with a high output power and a high laser efficiency has been generated. The relative discharge area of the electric discharge accounted for about 70% of the cross section of the laser tube. In the configuration of a single discharge area, we achieved a maximum laser output power of 273 W at 1450 W microwave input power, and a a maximum laser efficiency of 20.2% at 1070 W microwave input power. At the maximum laser output power, the input power density was high, at about 240 W/cm³, which is about 20 times that achieved using a dc discharge method. Furthermore, a demonstration model having five electric discharge areas in a laser tube showed a maximum laser output power of 609 W at 3590 W microwave input power, and a maximum laser efficiency of 22.7% at 1394 W microwave input power. This work demonstrates the possibility of fabrication of a high-power microwave discharge excited carbon-dioxide laser which could be widely used industrially.

Citation Download Citation

Koichi Saito, Makoto Kato, Hiroyoshi Yajima, Nobuaki Furuya, Minoru Kimura, and Shigeki Yamane "Microwave-discharge-excited CO₂ laser using orthogonal electric fields", Proc. SPIE 2987, Gas and Chemical Lasers and Applications II, (4 April 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.271550

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