Abstract
An unstable resonator (M equals 2) has been applied to reduce the beam divergence of a gasdynamically cooled supersonic CO laser operating at 105 K in a semiclosed gas cycle. A 4.7 kW laser beam with a total divergence of 2.5 mrad is obtained with an efficiency of 9.4%. The results of welding experiments are compared with those using a CO2 laser. The weld depth obtained with the CO2 laser are drastically reduced using Argon as assist gas; whereas the results with the CO laser are independent of the assist gas because of the lower plasma absorption coefficient for the shorter CO laser wavelength. The beam quality of the CO laser is strongly influenced by water vapor absorption in the beam delivery system.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
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