Radio frequency pumped mid-infrared waveguide lasers

RF discharge waveguide laser technology has been extended from the 10.6 μm CO
2
laser to include 2.7 μm HF, 3.8 μm DF, and several rare gas mid-infrared lasers. The maximum achieved electrical efficiencies of 5.3 and 4.0 percent were demonstrated in pulsed HF and DF systems, respectively. These, as well as several low efficiency rare gas lasers were demonstrated in a 20 cm gain length device. The output power and spectral distribution were determined as a function of the gas composition, pressure, velocity, and the RF power, pulse length, and repetition rate.