High-gain air breathing electric discharge CO2 laser

Abstract

The small-signal gain and the output power of air breathing electric discharge CO2 laser have been measured in the absence of He gas. A maximum gain of 4.9 m−1 was observed at a gas composition of CO2:air = 120:80 (l/min, at normal state), and a 45-W output power was obtained with an energy conversion efficiency of 5.1%. The corresponding specific power was 7.4 J/g.