High-power electroionization CO2and CO lasers for industrial applications

This paper describes the evolution of a concept for a technological laser for industrial use. It consists of a collation of texts published by the authors and their colleagues in the U.S.S.R. over the past decade. A laser system which can run on multiple wavelengths, operate in CW, and long or short repetitive pulse modes, and which can operate economically was the design goal. Each section of this paper addresses one of the problems to be solved and indicates how it was solved. The end result is a laser system which uses a coupled turbocompressor and refrigerator to supply the gas flow and temperature control. The gas which expands and cools in the refrigeration turbine also supplies a portion of the power required by the turbocompressor. This system can operate on CO or CO
2
, thus serving as a source of mid-and far-infrared radiation in either the CW or pulse repetition mode. A five gas mixture (to conserve helium) and a silica gel gas purifier (in place of a catalytic converter) are proposed for their economic advantages.