Development of high power compact kinetically enhanced copper vapour lasers

Abstract

Copper vapour lasers (CVL) are high power, pulsed, visible lasers capable of diffraction limited beam quality and kilohertz pulse repetition frequencies. Kinetic enhancement of elemental CVLs has been reported to significantly increase the output power and pulse repetition frequency range of a given laser architecture.This paper reports the performance of medium scale CVLs when kinetically enhanced using small partial pressures of hydrogen halides to the Ne:H2 buffer gas. Kinetic enhancement increased the output power by factors of up to 2.5. Using a 1 x 0.025m discharge tube, an output power of 60W was achieved at 15 – 20kHz and over 50W at frequencies in excess of 30kHz. Using a high magnification unstable cavity, over 35W was achieved at close to the diffraction limit. Sealed-off operation of the laser with excellent power stability was also demonstrated.The combination of high power, visible, diffraction-limited beam with short pulse widths, high pulse repetition frequency from a compact industrial package is of great interest for a number of micromachining and advanced manufacturing applications. In addition it is an excellent source for generating high power, narrow linewidth UV (255nm) by frequency doubling.Copper vapour lasers (CVL) are high power, pulsed, visible lasers capable of diffraction limited beam quality and kilohertz pulse repetition frequencies. Kinetic enhancement of elemental CVLs has been reported to significantly increase the output power and pulse repetition frequency range of a given laser architecture.This paper reports the performance of medium scale CVLs when kinetically enhanced using small partial pressures of hydrogen halides to the Ne:H2 buffer gas. Kinetic enhancement increased the output power by factors of up to 2.5. Using a 1 x 0.025m discharge tube, an output power of 60W was achieved at 15 – 20kHz and over 50W at frequencies in excess of 30kHz. Using a high magnification unstable cavity, over 35W was achieved at close to the diffraction limit. Sealed-off operation of the laser with excellent power stability was also demonstrated.The combination of high power, visible, diffraction-limited beam with short pulse widths, high pulse repetition frequency from a compact industrial pa...