Small-signal gain of a CO2laser amplifier utilizing a white optical reflector design

A small-signal gain of 39 dB in a nonresonant multi-path CO
2
laser amplifier with a discharge length of 65 cm is reported. The multipath system employed is a modified White optical reflector design. An unsaturated gain of 39 dB was observed for signals smaller than 10
^-5
watt. No noise component, due to the amplifier, was detected for signals as small as
5 \times 10^{-8}
watt.