Abstract

The optical quality of a pulsed atmospheric CO₂ electric laser is investigated. The density disturbances in the optical cavity are caused by edge waves originating at the anode and cathode. Volumetric heating effects associated with a nonuniform electric discharge are shown to be negligible. The disturbance propagating from the cathode results from a discontinuity in the spatial heating and the cathode fall. The wave emanating from the anode is associated with the presence of a solid surface that prevents the gas from expanding. As a result, lasers have to be designed with pulse durations much less than the acoustic transit time across the cavity.

© 1974 Optical Society of America

Acoustical wave effects on the beam quality of a high energy CO electric discharge laser

G. L. McAllister, V. G. Draggoo, and R. G. Eguchi
Appl. Opt. 14(6) 1290-1296 (1975)

Early Termination of Flashlamp Pumped Dye Laser Pulses by Shock Wave Formation

S. Blit, A. Fisher, and U. Ganiel
Appl. Opt. 13(2) 335-340 (1974)

Optical Response of High-Power Laser Windows–Ultrashort Pulse Regime

J. D. O’Keefe and R. L. Johnson
Appl. Opt. 13(5) 1141-1146 (1974)

Coaxial Alignment of Laser Beams for Perturbation Experiments

George Czerlinski and Viera Bracokova
Appl. Opt. 13(7) 1639-1645 (1974)

Three-Dimensional Unstable Resonator Calculations with Laser Medium

D. B. Rensch
Appl. Opt. 13(11) 2546-2561 (1974)