Resonator and beam quality of the multichannel spiral flow CO 2 laser with round-metal-resonator

Abstract

For developing a new laser for laser cutting, which has the advantage of good beam quality, small size and low cost, we have proposed a round-metal-resonator CO<SUB>2</SUB> laser with blow-in discharge and spiral flow. In this paper, investigations have been made on the resonator and beam quality of this laser. At first the ideal of the new laser is introduced in this paper. And secondly, the new structure for carbon dioxide laser is explained. Thirdly, investigations have been made on the resonator and the output beam quality of the carbon dioxide laser. The resonator parameters are determined by the matrix optics calculations and by considering the size of experimental structure and the basic design principles of resonator. The output laser intensity spacial distribution of the laser resonator with gain spacial distribution inside is obtained by solving the diffraction integral equations through iteration method. The results indicate that from the new structure laser, the quasi-fundamental mode laser beam can be obtained with a higher efficiency. The ideas to improve the gain distribution in the lasing channel, and then the quality of the mode of the output beam arise from these calculations.