Operation of a helium-free TEA CO2 laser (original) (raw)

Repetitive operation of a helium-free mini TEA CO2 laser

Optics & Laser Technology, 2008

A helium-free mini TEA CO 2 laser has been operated at a repetition rate of 100 Hz wherein the gas re-circulatory loop consisting of heat exchanger and catalytic converter, mandatory for conventional repetitive operation of such lasers, have been totally dispensed with. The laser utilized inexpensive molecular gases alone that were simply flown out transversely through the inter-electrode region by an open gas flow system. The active medium was energized by making use of a spiker-sustainer excitation scheme. At this repetition rate, the laser produced an average power of $3.50 W.

Theoretical study of hybrid TEA–CO2 lasers

Optics & Laser Technology, 2008

Temporal and spatial analysis of dynamics of hybrid transversely excited atmospheric pressure (TEA)-CO 2 lasers is studied using two different models with four and eight energy levels. These models are used for simulation of the laser and computing the output energy. Effects of several parameters such as input energies and gas mixture concentrations (especially presence of CO molecules) are also studied.

Switchless operation of a TEA CO~ 2 laser

BARC NEWSLETTER, 2003

We report here the operation of a UV pre-ionised mini-TEA CO 2 laser where the use of an external switch has been dispensed with. This was rendered possible by making the preioniser spark array play a dual role-that of a switch as well as of a source of UV photons that pre-conditioned the inter-electrode volume.

Towards a triggerable switchless TEA CO2 laser

Optics Communications, 2011

The possibility of triggering a switch-less TE gas laser has been experimentally explored. To this end, the parallel spark preioniser array that functions as a switch of the switch-less laser has been optically triggered by transporting UV photons from the triggering discharge by means of an optical fiber. The maximum triggerable range was studied as a function of the number of spark channels in the triggering discharge and the gas composition in the triggered parallel spark preioniser.

Design Of High Power CO[sub 2] TEA Lasers And Applications

AIP Conference Proceedings, 2008

There are a number of key technologies involved in the successful design and construction of high power, Carbon Dioxide TEA lasers (Transverse Excitation Atmospheric). These include uniform field electrodes, excitation circuit design including high voltage switching, discharge preionisation and for high repetition, high power applications fast transverse gas flow and the management of acoustic waves. This paper provides a summary of the design aspects of high repetition rate, high average power CO2 TEA lasers. Experimental data measured on high power CO2 TEA laser systems delivering average outputs of several kW and kHz repetition rates will be reported showing the detrimental effect of acoustic waves on laser performance and the improvement that can be achieved through effective acoustic damping measures.

Dielectric barrier discharge CO2 TEA laser operated at frequencies up to 400 Hz

A dielectric barrier discharge CO 2 TEA laser excited by a thyratron driven power supply has been developed and characterized. Laser output was observed at frequencies up to 25 Hz for an electrode separation of 10 mm with 1.8 mm suprasil glass covering the electrodes. At this gap separation, pulsed power output of about 9 W was detected for gas pressures between 100 and 400 mbar. Changing the electrode separation to 5 mm and using 1.4 mm suprasil glass dielectric increased the output power to 23 W and enabled laser output to be observed at gas pressures upto 700 mbar and maximum pulse excitation frequencies of up to 400 Hz. The developed laser does not require water cooling since the system operates in burst pulse mode.

Single-Longtiduinal-Mode Operation of a TEA CO2 Laser Using a Time-Gated Gain Cell

The Review of Laser Engineering

Stable and repetitive single-longitudinal-mode output from a pulsed TEA carbon dioxide laser has been achieved using a time-gated gain cell. The gain cell is operated as an oscillator for the time periods between the laser pulses. Before the TEA laser is triggered, the gain cell is rapidly switched below threshold to avoid saturation of the gain-switched spike in the TEA laser pulse. Standard dither-stabilization techniques can be used during the CW operation of the gain cell to position the output coupler for single-mode operation. This method for obtaining single-mode output from a pulsed TEA laser is completely automatic and very straightforward to implement.

A highly efficient electron beam controlled switchless multi-joule TEA CO2 laser

Infrared Physics & Technology, 2003

We report multi-joule operation of an electron beam controlled switchless TEA CO 2 laser. The system is capable of delivering up to 75 J of energy per pulse at an electro-optical efficiency of 2626%. More energy could be extracted from the laser, however, at a reduced efficiency. At the maximum operating efficiency, the small signal gain of the laser has been measured to be 265% per cm.