Simple Short-Pulse CO2 Laser Excited by Longitudinal Discharge without High-Voltage Switch

Abstract

We have developed a longitudinally excited CO2 laser without a high-voltage switch. The laser produces a short laser pulse similar to those from TEA and Q-switched CO2 lasers. This system, which is the simplest short-pulse CO2 laser yet constructed, includes a pulsed power supply, a high-speed step-up transformer, a storage capacitor, and a laser tube. At high pressure (4.2 kPa and above), a rapid discharge produces a short laser pulse with a sharp spike pulse. In mixed gas (CO2: N2: He = 1: 1: 2) at a pressure of 9.0 kPa, the laser pulse contains a spike pulse of 218 ns and has a pulse tail length of 16.7 μs.