Efficient room-temperature CO laser with high specific output.
Efficient room-temperature operation of a fast-axial-flow rf-discharge-excited CO laser is described. A steady-state laser output of 268 W has been obtained with a CO/N(2)/He/Xe/O(2) mixture from a 19-mm-diameter, 300-mm-long discharge. The corresponding electrical conversion efficiency and the specific laser output are as high as 13.5% and 3.15 W/cm(3), respectively. The role of Xe in the mixtures is discussed. The specific laser output achieved is comparable with those of the high-power industrial CO(2) lasers in which a similar excitation scheme is applied.
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Sato
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Shimizu
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Shimamoto