Design of a High Power Submillimeter Oscillator-Amplifier System

A submillimeter laser source for an ion-temperature diagnostic of a thermonuclear plasma will require approximately a one megawatt narrowlinewidth pulse with a duration of 150–300 nsec [1]. An oscillator-amplifier system optically pumped by a CO
2
TEA laser system of the type developed by Chang and Bridges is being constructed for this purpose [2]. To meet these requirements a wavelength insensitive submillimeter oscillator, based on an unstable resonator cavity design, is being developed to drive a large volume submillimeter amplifier. The oscillator will be optically pumped by a 15 joule TEA CO
2
laser and the amplifier is to be pumped by a 150 joule TEA CO
2
laser. Presently, the oscillator characteristics are being determined by using the 496 μm CH
3
F line and the 447 CH
3
I line.