Some characteristics of the radiation from a pulsed TEA CO2 laser with a liquid crystal modulator

A spatial and temporal regime for modulating the radiation from a pulsed TEA CO₂ laser was realized using an intracavity space–time light modulator based on a liquid crystal. Pulses of 100-ns duration and with an energy of 0.8 mJ were generated using one space–time light modulator element. The construction of the resonator and of the space–time light modulator provided a spatial resolution of 4 mm ^– 1 in an angle of 7°. It was possible to control the amplitude and timing of a lasing pulse by the liquid crystal modulator. The characteristic features of lasing with an intracavity liquid crystal modulator were noted and explained.