Output flux instabilities in a flowing-gas cw CO2 electric discharge laser
- 15 December 1975
- journal article
- conference paper
- Published by AIP Publishing in Applied Physics Letters
- Vol. 27 (12) , 673-676
- https://doi.org/10.1063/1.88357
Abstract
Temporal measurements of laser output flux of a flowing‐gas cw CO2 electron‐beam‐sustainer electric discharge laser exhibit large fluctuations. The amplitude of the fluctuations varies from 20 to 100% depending on cavity pressure, unstable resonator output coupling, and discharge specific power loading. Sharp discontinuities are observed in the laser medium when output flux is extracted. Gain measurements made simultaneously with output flux extraction show large fluctuations both above and below cavity threshold. These results are consistent with a basic self‐oscillation instability mechanism proposed for fast‐flow cw lasers using unstable resonators.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Performance Characteristics of a 10-kW Industrial CO_2 Laser SystemApplied Optics, 1974
- Pulser/sustainer electric-discharge laserJournal of Applied Physics, 1972