Double-vacuum sealed Z-fold dual-channel RF-excited CO2 waveguide laser

RF-excited (Radio Frequency excited) waveguide CO₂ laser with two channels has been widely applied in coherent detection, coherent laser radar, etc. In this paper a novel structure of Z-fold dual-channel RF-excited waveguide CO₂ laser with double-shell vacuum was developed, which own the advantage of long operating life. The laser was composed of double-shell vacuum chamber. The pressure and the ratio of both vacuum chamber gas were equivalent. The waveguide structure was composed by a metal ceramic sandwich which was fixed into the first vacuum chamber. The second vacuum chambers were used to reduce the leak speed of the first vacuum chamber in order to maintain the pressure of the first vacuum chamber. In experiments, the life of the single vacuum laser is about 150 hours, and the double vacuum laser operating life is about 700 hours.