A microwave-pumped slab CO2 laser

The radiation parameters of a diffusion-cooled compact slab CO₂ laser pumped by microwave discharge at a frequency of 2.45 GHz are studied. A magnetron from a domestic microwave oven is used as the pump source. An average output power of 25 W and an efficiency of ~13% are obtained at a wavelength 10.6 μm. A peak output power of 580 W is achieved for 20-μs pulses emitted at a pulse repetition rate of 400 Hz. The dependence of parameters of the CO₂ laser on the input pulse power in the range 0.8 – 8 kW, the composition and pressure of the working mixture and the pump pulse duration and repetition rate are studied experimentally. Optimal relations between these parameters are determined for the given design of the laser.