Output Characteristics of a Radio Frequency Discharge Excited Carbon Monoxide Laser Operated at Room Temperature.

A transverse flow radio frequency discharge excited carbon monoxide laser has been developed for a high output power and high conversion efficiency operation at room temperature. In experiments performed, a maximum output power of 1.0 kW at a conversion efficiency of 13.3% has been achieved with an entrance gas temperature of 278 K, using gas mixture of He, N2, CO and 02, without Xe addition. Long term output power stabilization was successfully obtained to trap the CO2 with molecular sieves. Also, modulated pulse operation has led to realize fast response and good reproducibility.