Wide-range tunable CO/sub 2/ sequence band waveguide laser

In a previous study we have shown a simple CO/sub 2/ waveguide sequence band laser capable of oscillation on several lines in the 10/spl mu/m band. In this paper we report an improved system which greatly extends the range of wavelength tuning and the level of output power. The laser configuration is based on a DC-discharged, flow-type CO/sub 2/ waveguide excitation. The application of a hot cell configuration leads to a wide range of tunable sequence lines with medium level of output power.