Effective way to minimize the initial spike energy in a pulsed TE <inline-formula><math display="inline" overflow="scroll"><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">O</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow></math></inline-formula> laser

Abstract

A novel method is provided in conventional TE CO2 laser configuration by utilizing a specially designed small capacitance in the UV preionization scheme and a carefully optimized pulser/sustainer discharge circuitry so that the initial spike energy in the laser pulse profile induced by gain-switch effect can be greatly reduced. An experimental illustration is given in which the initial spike energy in the laser pulse is suppressed to less than 3.5% of the total pulse energy while stable laser performance is maintained.