Single-mode operation of a high-power pulsed N2/CO2laser

A pulsed electric N
2
/CO
2
laser is used to investigate the power extraction capabilities of stable and unstable cavity resonators. Under conditions of the same resonator output coupling and coverage of the laser mediums no appreciable difference in power extraction is measured between the stable and unstable resonators. When focused, the unstable resonator produced focal point power densities measured to be within 60-90 percent of that calculated for an ideal diffraction-limited spot.