Title :
Electronic mode and power control of a high-power CO2 laser
Author :
Akitt, Dale R. ; Seguin, H.J.J. ; Cervenan, Martin R. ; Nikumb, Suwas K.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Alberta Univ., Edmonton, Alta., Canada
fDate :
8/1/1990 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
An electronic supervisory system has been developed which allows long-term mode and power stability to be obtained from a high-power CO 2 laser, without any form of mechanical compensation. The system is shown to be capable of stabilizing the total output power of the laser to within 3% of the desired level. Mode stability is evaluated by measuring the power level in each quadrant of the laser output. Individual quadrant power is shown to vary by no more than 2%, with the system in operation. The relatively simple and inexpensive controller appears suitable for retrofitting to any medium- or high-powered laser, whether repetitively pulsed or CW
Keywords :
carbon compounds; gas lasers; laser modes; optical variables control; physical instrumentation control; power control; CO2; controller; electronic supervisory system; high-power CO2 laser; long term mode stability; power control; power level; power stability; quadrant power; total output power; Consumer electronics; Laser modes; Laser stability; Materials processing; Mirrors; Optical arrays; Optical control; Optical resonators; Power control; Power lasers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
