Effect of leakage transformer on laser power and mode pattern of CO2 laser excited by 60 Hz AC discharges

The 60 Hz AC discharges generated by a leakage transformer instead of an isolation one, which is usually used in the power supply of DC CO₂ laser, are employed as a pumping source in this experiment. The laser performance characteristics as functions of pressure and discharge current have been investigated. The maximum laser power is about 40 W at conditions of 18 Torr and 35 mA. The output power is not less than that of DC discharge at the same condition. In addition, the laser outputs of 60 Hz AC discharges obtained by different transformers such as a leakage type and an isolation one have been measured. It was found that the laser power obtained by the leakage transformer is saturated at the higher current compared with the isolation transformer.