A 10.6 µm scan laser with programmable VO2mirror

A scan laser controlled by the variable reflectance of a VO
2
film on a CRT faceplate has been demonstrated at 10.6 μm. The cavity is a flat field conjugate resonator with an active medium of axially flowing CO
2
-N
2
-He gas mixture. The output beam has been scanned in a circular pattern at 20 Hz. Output modulation has been observed at a raster frame rate of 45 Hz (100 percent) and at a raster line rate of 4.44 kHz (< 100 percent).