Experimental study for parametric determination of direct current excited CO2 laser at 10.6μm wavelength

Abstract

This paper report the experimental determination of direct current (DC) excited continuous waves (CW) / repetitively pulsed CO2 laser system. The CO2 laser system was operated at 10.6mum wavelength range of infrared electromagnetic spectrum. The DC excited laser driver was designed to allow the laser system to operate both; in continuous wave as well as in pulsed mode. The studies on the CO2 laser system was carried out in detail to determine the laser characteristics between various design parameters. The parametric studies of cw/repetitively pulsed CO2 laser were carried out in terms of laser energy and power subject to various variables such as pulse repetition rate, discharge current, duty cycle and pulse duration. The maximum and minimum output energy and power of the laser system are presented in this paper. The frequency and current limits for both, pulsed and cw operation regarding maximum and minimum output energy and power are also presented in this paper.