Propagation characteristics of coherent array beams from carbon dioxide waveguide lasers

Author

Baker, H.J. ; Hall, D.R. ; Hornby, A.M. ; Morley, R.J. ; Taghizadeh, M.R. ; Yelden, E.F.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., Heriot-Watt Univ., Edinburgh, UK

Volume

32

Issue

3

fYear

1996

fDate

3/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

400

Lastpage

407

Abstract

The characteristics of coherent array beams generated by waveguide carbon dioxide laser structures have been investigated, with particular emphasis on their propagation and transformation properties. Methods of array beam generation are presented, and measurements of array beam quality are given through the use of the M² parameter. Efficient transformation of an array beam from the antisymmetric to symmetric pattern is achieved through the use of a binary phase plate, and spatial filtering is shown to improve the beam quality at the expense of only a moderate loss of total beam power. Coherence effects in the near-field propagation of array beams are also explored

Keywords

carbon compounds; gas lasers; laser accessories; laser arrays; laser beams; light coherence; spatial filters; waveguide lasers; CO₂; CO₂ laser; M² parameter; antisymmetric pattern; array beam generation; array beam quality; array beams; binary phase plate; coherence effects; coherent array beams; near-field propagation; propagation characteristics; spatial filtering; symmetric pattern; total beam power; transformation properties; waveguide lasers; Carbon dioxide; Character generation; Coherence; Filtering; Laser beams; Optical arrays; Optical propagation; Phased arrays; Waveguide components; Waveguide lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.485390

Filename

485390