RF discharge slab CO laser operating in both fundamental and first-overtone bands

Abstract

A compact sealed-off cryogenically cooled radio frequency (RF) discharge slab CO laser, operating in both first-overtone (FO) and fundamental band (FB), was launched. Repetitively pulsed and CW modes of RF discharge excitation were studied. Average FB output power was up to 12W, with laser efficiency 14%. The multiline FB laser spectrum was observed within the wavelength range ∼5.1–5.4μm. An optical scheme “frequency selective master oscillator – laser amplifier” was applied for getting FB tuning. Single line FB lasing with average power up to several tens of mW was observed on ∼100 FB vibrational-rotational transitions of CO molecule within the spectral range ∼5.0–6.5 μm. Multiline FO lasing was observed on ∼80 spectral lines within the spectral range ∼2.5–4.0 μm, with maximum single line average output power 12mW. Total output power of the slab FO CO laser came up to 0.3W, with maximum laser efficiency 0.5%. Results of parametric studies of the FB and FO slab CO laser including complicated time behavior for laser pulses on different FO vibrational–rotational transitions are discussed.