Two- and three-grating resonators for high-power pulsed CO sub 2 lasers

Journal Article · Sun Oct 20 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Applied Optics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.30.004319· OSTI ID:6148776

Izatt, J R; Zhu, W ^[1]; Rob, M A ^[2]

---

1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama (USA)
2. Department of Physical Sciences, University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, Texas (USA)

Development of broadly tunable narrow-linewidth CO{sub 2} lasers is critical to the continued development of tunable far-infrared Raman lasers and could also improve many other optical pumping experiments. Here we extend the use of multiple intracavity gratings, a widely used dye laser technique, to multiatmosphere continuously tunable CO{sub 2} lasers. We analyze the angular dispersion, wavelength tuning performance, and grating size requirements for several different grating configurations. Experimentally, by double passing each of two gratings worked near grazing incidence in a three-mirror 10-atm laser resonator, we have produced {similar to}200-mJ pulses with {lt}600-MHz linewidth, and our analysis shows that operation in a single longitudinal mode (SLM) should be possible at somewhat reduced output levels. The simpler experimental task of producing SLM operation in a two-grating CO{sub 2} transversely excited atmospheric laser has also been accomplished.

• OSTI ID: 6148776
• Journal Information: Applied Optics; (United States), Journal Name: Applied Optics; (United States) Vol. 30:30; ISSN 0003-6935; ISSN APOPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
DESIGN
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
GAS LASERS
GRATINGS
LASERS
OPERATION
RESONATORS
TUNING