A gasdynamically cooled CO - laser with a dielectrically stabilized RF -discharge in the subsonic region is described and experimental results are presented. The gas is excited at pressures of about 500 mbar in a discharge tube with a rectangular cross - section. Then, the laser gas is cooled to a temperature of approximately 90 K by an adiabatic expansion in a two - dimensional supersonic nozzle. After extraction of laser energy in a triple pass resonator the gas is recompressed in a supersonic diffuser and by a Roots pump system. The dependance of laser power on discharge pressure and resonator design is presented. Experimental results of the diffuser performance are also discussed.

Date Published: 1 February 1991
PDF: 4 pages
Proc. SPIE 1397, 8th Intl Symp on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers, (1 February 1991); doi: 10.1117/12.25957

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1397:
8th Intl Symp on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers
Concepcion Maroto Domingo; Jose M. Orza, Editor(s)