High-pressure, high-repetition-rate RF CO2 laser

Abstract

In this work we report the physical properties of a radiofrequency supplied waveguide CO2 laser operating with different standard mixtures at high pressures up to 1.5 bar, with about 10% electrical efficiency. We describe some problems to obtain a complete RF matching in the discharge and we analyse the conditions for a better efficiency, gain and peak power in different mixtures, both to obtain a larger mode tuning and to eliminate the he contents so that the laser running costs are largely reduced.