Effect of the active medium temperature on the operation of fast-flow CO2 lasers

Abstract

A new formula is obtained for estimating the output power of fast-flow CO2 lasers. It is shown that a higher specific output power of these CO2 lasers in comparison with sealed-off CO2 lasers is caused mainly by the higher saturation intensity of the former. It is concluded that the temperature of the laser active medium affects almost only the charge stability and that, under stable discharge conditions, the same output power can be obtained at different temperatures of the active medium.