Experiment determination of after-operating gas compositions in a transverse-flow CW high power CO2 laser

For a high-power CO₂ laser with a close-confined structure, the compositions and ratios of gas mixtures are changed due to electron impacts during the laser-operating period. As a result, the laser performance is gradually degraded, even to non-lasing output. In this paper, three different methods (a chemiluminescence, a titration analysis and a thermal conductivity measurement) are utilized to determine both the compositions and the ratios, according to different thermal and chemical characteristics of the gases. Corresponding experiments are implemented to a typical transverse-flow high-power CO₂ laser after a long-term discharge (around 15 h) with the output power decreased from an initial 3 kW to final 2 kW. There is evidence in the experiments to indicate that CO₂ decreases by 13.2% comparing with an initially optimal content. Also, the produced impurities are mostly CO and O₂ molecules with noticeable concentrations, while nitrogen–oxygen complexes are little in the gas mixtures.     

Gas breakdown with nanosecond CO2 laser radiation

The thresholds for CO₂ laser induced breakdown and their variation with pulse width have been measured at various pressures for Ar, N₂ and an 8/1/1 laser mixture of He/CO₂/N₂ using 3–40 ns duration pulses. These measurements indicate that excited state production plays a dominant role in determining the threshold for nanosecond duration pulses. This has been confirmed by the good agreement obtained between the measured and theoretical thresholds.     

Optically pumped submillimeter laser lines from CD2Cl2 using a large tunability CW CO2 laser

Twenty-five new laser lines have been obtained in the wavelength region from 155 to 830 μm by optically pumping the CD₂Cl₂ (deuterated dichloromethane) molecule with a CW CO₂ laser having a tunability range of 300 MHz. The wavelength, polarization relative to that of CO₂ pumping radiation, and offset relative to the CO₂ center frequency were determined for all of the new lines and some other already known laser emissions. For all of them we give also the relative intensity and the optimum pressure of operation. Permanent address: Depto de Física e Química da FEIS — UNESP 15.378-000 Ilha Solteira-SP, Brazil     

Optimization of the operational parameters in a fast axial flow CW CO2 laser using artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms

This paper presents an artificial intelligence approach for optimization of the operational parameters such as gas pressure ratio and discharge current in a fast-axial-flow CW CO₂ laser by coupling artificial neural networks and genetic algorithm. First, a series of experiments were used as the learning data for artificial neural networks. The best-trained network was connected to genetic algorithm as a fitness function to find the optimum parameters. After the optimization, the calculated laser power increases by 33% and the measured value increases by 21% in an experiment as compared to a non-optimized case.     

CO2 laser cutting of slate

Slate is a natural stone which has the characteristic that shows a well-developed defoliation plane, allowing to easily split it in plates parallel to that plane which are particularly used as tiles for roof building. At present, the manufacturing of slate is mostly manual, being noisy, powdery and unsafe for the worker. Thus, there is a need to introduce new processing methods in order to improve both the working conditions and the quality of the products made of slate.Following the previous work focused on the drilling and cutting of slate tiles using a Nd : YAG laser, we present in this paper the results of the work carried out to explore the possibilities to cut slate plates by using a CO₂ laser. A 1.5 kW CO₂ laser was used to perform different experiments in which, the influence of some processing parameters (average power, assist gas pressure) on the geometry and quality of the cut was studied. The results obtained show that the CO₂ laser is a feasible tool for a successful cutting of slate.     

Mathematical modeling of hybrid CO2 laser

A Teller–Landau six-temperature model describing the dynamic emission of single-mode TEA CO₂ laser has been adapted. This model has been also used to describe the mechanism of obtaining relatively high-power output pulses from hybrid TE-TEA or CW-TEA CO₂ laser consisting of high- and low-pressure sections. The suggested mathematical model allows to investigate the mechanism which limits the TEA oscillation to single longitudinal mode (SLM) due to the narrow gain bandwidth of low-pressure section, and also to study the effect of the laser input parameters on the smooth output laser pulse parameters. In addition, numerical solutions of non-linear rate equation system of the suggested model are quantitatively discussed. The solutions describe the radiation field intensity, the population inversion, and the energy transfer processes. The calculated values of maximum peak power, total energy in pulse, pulse width, etc. are in a very good agreement with the observed experimental values.     

Phase-locking of a multi-channel radial array CO2 laser

A theoretical analysis of phase-locking in a multi-channel radial array CO₂ laser is presented. The concepts are based on the theories of injection phase-locking and matrix optics. The mutual optical coupling occurring within the central region is demonstrated by theoretical deduction. Interrelated graphs of the coupling coefficient and the distance between the coupling position and the cavity mirror are calculated by numerical simulation. The results of the analysis are in accord with experimental results.     

AC-chopper application for CW CO2 laser

A microprocessor-based algorithm was developed to control the power supply to a CO₂ laser using an AC-chopper method. This system was connected directly to a CO₂ laser tube without the need for a dc-dc converter or the storage capacitance of a multilevel circuit. The typical CO₂ laser power supply system had a full-bridge series resonant inverter or voltage multiplier. AC-to-AC converter schemes using zero voltage switching (ZVS) can be used efficiently and economically for low and medium power applications.This paper reports the performance characteristics of a symmetrical AC-chopper technology that can maintain the quality of the ac output of a CO₂ laser tube, regardless of the amount of switching loss. The laser was operated to an output power, maximum system efficiency total gas mixture of 37.2 W, 92%, and CO₂:N₂:He=1:9:15, respectively. The laser system, AC-chopper power supply and its operation were examined.     

CO2 laser assisted removal of UO2 and ThO2 particulates from metal surface

Pulsed laser assisted removal of uranium dioxide and thorium dioxide particulates from stainless steel surface have been studied using a TEA CO₂ laser. Decontamination efficiency is measured as a function of laser fluence and number of pulses. Threshold fluence for the removal of UO₂ particulates has been found to be lower than that required for the removal ThO₂ particulates. Usage of a ZnSe substrate, that is transparent to the laser wavelength used here, enabled us to decouple the cleaning effect arising out of absorption in the particulates from that in the substrate and has contributed towards understanding the mechanism responsible for cleaning. The experimental observations are also corroborated by simple theoretical calculations.     

High-power multibeam CO2 laser for industrial applications

Multibeam CO₂ lasers consist of a large number of closely packed parallel glass discharge tubes, all sharing a common plane parallel resonator. This paper describes construction and operation of a CW multibeam CO₂ laser consisting 20 discharge tubes and cooled length of 1500 mm, delivering 1 kW power. A high-frequency pulser is used for producing preionization in all discharge sections for initiating the main DC discharge simultaneously in all discharge tubes. Plane parallel resonator consists of a plane ZnSe mirror of 90 mm diameter having 60% reflectivity and a gold-coated copper mirror of same diameter. This laser operates in waveguide regime and laser power is not critically sensitive to mirror misalignment.     

Numerical investigation of a fast-axial-flow CW CO2 laser

This paper presents the results of the calculation of the parameters of the active medium of a fast-axial-flow CO₂ laser using numerical methods in the framework of a one-dimensional approximation of the set of continuity equations, Bernoulli equation, equation of gas state, energy equation and multi-temperature rate equations with regard to diffusion for the gas flow in the cylindrical discharge tube. The spatial distribution of the small-signal gain and gas temperature along the gas flow direction have been calculated for a given set of initial conditions, namely, gas flow velocity, gas pressure and the tube diameter. In addition, the dependence of small-signal gain, the asymmetric stretch vibrational temperature of CO₂ (T₃) and the gas temperature on the discharge current were studied.     

Numerical modeling of a fast-axial-flow CW–CO2 laser

A four-temperature model has been applied on a fast axial flow, longitudinal discharge CO₂ laser. Using Runge–Kutta method, a set of differential equations of the model is numericaly solved. These equations describe the operation of the laser with certain ratio 1:3:6 of the mixture CO₂:N₂: He and average output power of 550 W.The temporal behaviour of the output power and photon density was obtained. The effects of kinetic temperature, coupled mirror reflectivity, gas flow speed, and cavity loss on the output power were studied.Calculated output power was compared with its measured value taken from experiment and a good agreement was observed.     

Repetitive operation of a helium-free mini TEA CO2 laser

A helium-free mini TEA CO₂ laser has been operated at a repetition rate of 100 Hz wherein the gas re-circulatory loop consisting of heat exchanger and catalytic converter, mandatory for conventional repetitive operation of such lasers, have been totally dispensed with. The laser utilized inexpensive molecular gases alone that were simply flown out transversely through the inter-electrode region by an open gas flow system. The active medium was energized by making use of a spiker-sustainer excitation scheme. At this repetition rate, the laser produced an average power of 3.50 W.     

优化封离型CO2激光工作气体的动力学机理研究

详细讨论了封离型CO₂激光器中CO₂，N₂和He三混合气 体含量被优化组合后的激光动力 学机理. 气体优化可以提高激光输出功率的主要机理是通过适当增加N₂含量， 使N₂激发 态与CO₂激光上能级的碰撞频率增加，提高了激光能级粒子数密度和相对布居数 . 同时， 适当减少CO₂含量，使总的电子动量输运碰撞频率减小、放电电流增大，导致增 加激光上转动能级的弛豫 关键词： 2激光')" href="#">CO₂激光 气体动力学 强化机理     

An injection-locked single-mode tea CO2 laser for SMM laser pumping

A D₂O laser has been developed for collective Thomson scattering measurements of ion temperature in high temperature plasmas. A pulse duration and a spectral width of a high power D₂O laser has been successfully controlled for this purpose, by using a TEA CO₂ laser injection-locked by an etalon-tuned TEA CO₂ laser as a pump source.     

光泵气体THz激光器用CO2泵浦源腔内光场模式

CO2泵浦源是光泵气体太赫兹激光器的核心器件之一,其性能直接关系到太赫兹激光器的工作稳定性。CO2泵浦源一般由闪耀光栅作为全反射尾镜,构成特殊的光栅腔实现波长的选支输出。采用传输矩阵的特征向量法对光栅谐振腔的腔内光场模式进行了理论分析与数值模拟,计算了光栅腔的一系列本征模式及相应的衍射损耗。结果表明光栅腔的腔内模式特性等效于一个平凹腔,而对于大菲涅尔数的光栅腔, Littrow波长的附近支线也可能具有衍射损耗较低的低阶模,可能优先于Littrow波长的高阶模起振,导致光栅腔的波长选择性降低。     

Thermal processes taking place in the bone during CO2 laser irradiation

The present study examines the drilling and heating of a bone due to pulsed CO₂ laser irradiation. To obtain temperature profiles inside and at the surface of the bone, electron-kinetic and Fourier theories are used. The study is extended to include an experimental investigation into the measurement of the penetration speed. This is achieved using a fibre-optic system. In order to reduce the degree of burning around the hole side, helium was used as the assisting gas during drilling. It is found that the penetration speeds predicted from the theory are in good agreement with the experimentally obtained values.     

Third-harmonic and fourth-harmonic generations of CO2 laser radiation in a GaSe crystal

Tunable third-harmonic and fourth-harmonic generations of pulsed CO2 laser radiation in a GaSe crystal were demonstrated. The optical properties of GaSe and phase-matching conditions in harmonic generations were investigated. The output peak powers for 3.2 μm and 2.4 μm were measured to be 1500 W and 320 W, with corresponding conversion efficiency from 9.6 μm of 0.1% and 0.02%, respectively.     

Tunable terahertz generation from one CO2 laser in a GaSe crystal

Coherent terahertz pulses have been generated at a range of 236.3-1104.5 μm (0.27-1.3 THz) by one CO₂ laser with dual-wavelength output based on collinearly phase-matched different frequency generation (DFG) in a GaSe crystal. This source has the advantages of compact and simplicity for tuning. The output power of the THz pulse and phase-matching conditions were investigated. The maximum single pulse energy of 11 nJ was generated at a frequency of 1.23 THz (243.6 μm), corresponding to a peak output power 182 mW.     

Spatial-dependent simulation of TEA CO2 lasers

We have developed a 1-D spatially-dependent model and simulation code to study the dynamics of TEA CO₂ lasers. In this paper we will discuss the motivation for developing the model and present the simulation details. We have compared and verified the simulation results with the previous 0-D model, and with the measurements of a TEA CO₂ laser. With spatial resolution, the 1-D simulation is in better agreement with experimental results compared with the existing 0-D model.