Sealed-off CO2 lasersexcited by an all-solid-state 0.6 MHz generator

Abstract

Sealed-off CO2 lasers excited by a dielectric barrierdischarge are studied. The laser output power is measured at excitationfrequencies between 0.3 and 0.6 MHz; discharge gaps are in the range1.6-6.0 mm. The excitation efficiency of the all-solid-state generatorreaches 90%. Due to the scaling laws of radio frequency excitation no laseractivity should be possible for the laser under investigation. The use ofhigh-frequency excitation (0.3-0.6 MHz) combined with a dielectric barrierdischarge gives the possibility of creating a homogeneous stable CO2laser gas discharge with high laser activity. The specific laser power followsthe 1/d scaling law due to gas cooling by diffusion. Even the optimal gaspressure can be increased by high-frequency excitation compared to the radiofrequency excitation.