High-average power-pulsed performance of a multikilowatt PIE laser

Author

Nikumb, Suwas K. ; Seguin, H.J.J. ; Seguin, Vern A. ; Willis, Ronald J. ; Reshef, Hugo W.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Alberta Univ., Edmonton, Alta., Canada

Volume

25

Issue

7

fYear

1989

fDate

7/1/1989 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1725

Lastpage

1735

Abstract

The application of a burst-mode pulsed discharge technique to a large-volume, multikilowatt, PIE (photo-initiated, impulse-enhanced, electrically excited) carbon dioxide laser is described. A factor of two enhancement in average output power, up to the 10 kW level, was obtained using a burst duration of 1.2 ms and a repetition rate of 500 burst/s. The small signal-gain increased to essentially double that of the normal continuous-wave value. Gain profile information, together with details of the laser´s power performance, as a function of various discharge parameters, is illustrated. These data clearly document the versatility of this unique and cost-effective burst-mode laser excitation process

Keywords

carbon compounds; gas lasers; laser modes; 10 kW; CO₂ laser; burst duration of 1.2 ms; burst-mode pulsed discharge technique; carbon dioxide laser; multikilowatt PIE laser; output power; power-pulsed performance; repetition rate of 500 burst/s; small signal-gain; Assembly; Electrodes; Gas lasers; Laser excitation; Laser theory; Laser transitions; Optical pulses; Power generation; Power lasers; Switches;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.29319

Filename

29319