A new scalable annular CO 2 laser with high specific output power

Abstract

A compact, annular waveguide CO 2 laser is presented which uses a novel method of RF excitation to allow discharge length scaling and a non-interrupted optical path within the annular resonator. The laser has produced an output power of 465 W at 12.9% efficiency with an annular spacing of 1.5 mm. The electrode transmission line effects in annular lasers are analysed, and it is shown that the new excitation format produces a highly uniform discharge, resulting in a high specific output power of 16.8 kW m −2.