Microwave excited high power cw CO laser at room temperature

Abstract

A microwave excited high power CO laser operating at room temperature is described. Maximal output power of 240 W, or 800 W/m with an extraction efficiency of 8% is achieved using a 30 cm long microwave discharge. The laser gas mixture ( CO: N 2: He: Xe: O 2=8.5:7.5:79.1:4.5:0.4 (%)) recirculates in a closed loop through the discharge tube with a rate of typically 2000 m 3/h at a pressure of 4 kPa. The laser gas is cooled down to an inlet temperature of 18° C by water operated heat exchangers. Results from this work demonstrate the possibility of high power operation of a CO laser at room temperature. Improvements both in the extraction efficiency and the output power appear possible by increasing the microwave power input.