Large-volume pulsed-RF excited waveguide CO/sub 2/ lasers

Scalable pulsed-RF excitation of a sealed-off non-flowing CO/sub 2/ laser in a configuration compatible with high transverse and high longitudinal mode purity and compatible with very compact laser designs is described. The variation of maximum pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) with discharge transverse dimensions and the effects of electric field uniformity are described. Kinetics code calculations and laser design studies indicate that the results are scalable to the 10-J, 50-Hz level.<
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