Optimization studies of a multikilowatt PIE CO2laser

Details of an investigation of the operational performance of a 10 kW CW PIE CO
2
laser are presented. The results obtained from the experiment, successfully scaled by an order of magnitude from an earlier proof-of-principle device, clearly document that the PIE excitation process can be effectively utilized in the design of very large volume lasers. Optimization data further reveal that overall wallplug efficiency is commensurate with that obtained from
E
-beam sustained lasers; but at far less complexity and cost. As such, this relatively simple and reliable nonself-sustained excitation process appears attractive for the commercial development of very large and cost effective CW CO
2
lasers.