Energy scaling of pulsed CO2 planar waveguide lasers

In the present paper, we report substantial enhancements of planar waveguide pulse waveform performance through energy scaling in the ultra super-pulse mode. We have investigated energy and power scaling in the ultra super-pulse mode with laser structures up to 2.5 times the electrode area in compact sealed devices. Considerable flexibility has been demonstrated in the selection of the pulse waveforms that are available from these devices, subject to the gas temperature limits on energy deposition within a pulse and the average power deposited in the laser gas. To date maximum peak laser power levels of 7 kW have been achieved with pulse duration in the range 10-250 μsec, and (burst) repetition frequencies to 16 kHz at average powers up to of 350 W.