Optimization of a resonator of a cw tunable CO2 laser

A description is given of the construction and characteristics of a stabilized tunable cw CO₂ laser. Optimization of the laser resonator with the aid of the polarization properties of diffraction gratings made it possible to achieve a tuning range 9.17–10.96 μ for a discharge gap ~0.35 m long and an output power of ~1.5 W for the strongest transitions in the single-mode regime.