Development and Applications of Millimeter Wavelength, High Power Optically Pumped Lasers

The performance and applications of high power pulsed lasers in the 0.75 - 2 mm wavelength region is discussed. A narrow-linewidth, oscillator-amplifier configuration, pumped by a grating tuned CO/sub 2/ laser, has produced pulsed power levels (~100 nsec duration) of approximately 50 kW at 0.862 mm, 1.006 mm and 1.222 mm.