title: Intracavity Beam Behavior in Hybrid Resonator Planar-Waveguide CO(2) Lasers.
abstract: We describe a combined computer simulation and experimental investigation of the intracavity spatial beam profile characteristics of a planar-waveguide rf-excited CO(2) laser that incorporates a hybrid waveguide confocal unstable negative-branch resonator. The study includes results for the intracavity lateral beam intensity profile and output power of the laser as a function of resonator mirror misalignment. In addition, the behavior of the unstable resonator, observed experimentally and predicted by the simulation, in generating localized high intensity hot-spots when it is subjected to relatively large misalignment angles is reported.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Wasilewski
authors: H J
authors: HJ
authors: Baker
authors: D R
authors: DR
authors: Hall