A pulsed repetitive CO2 laser pumped by a longitudinal-discharge-initiated semiconductor opening switch diode

Abstract

Experimental results obtained on a pulsed repetitive CO2 laser pumped by a longitudinal discharge are reported. The laser pumping system consisting of a high-voltage nanosecond pulsed generator with a solid switching system based on a semiconductor opening switch diode and capacitive energy storage is presented. An average radiation power of 300 mW was reached at a pulse repetitive rate of 10 Hz. The radiation pulse duration at full width at half-maximum was 60 μs.