Infrared-luminescence diagnostics of an industrial fast-flow CO2 laser with a crossed electrode system

Infrared-luminescence diagnostics, based on vibrational–rotational bands of the CO₂ molecule with the wavelengths 2.7 and 4.3 μm, was used in a study of the spatial structure of the characteristics of the active medium of an industrial fast-flow CO₂ laser excited by a self-sustained glow discharge with orthogonally sectioned electrodes. The distributions of the infrared luminescence intensity were determined along and across the gas flow in the gas-discharge chamber at various heights above the anode. The experimental infrared luminescence data were used to calculate the spatial distribution of the vibrational temperatures of the coupled and asymmetric modes of the CO₂ molecule in the downstream direction. The feasibility of monitoring the output power of an industrial laser on the basis of the 4.3 μm infrared luminescence band was demonstrated.