Pulse behaviour of a compact RF discharged CO2 slab laser

We present the measurements made on a medium power, 35 cm long, radio-frequency discharge CO₂ slab laser operated in a pulsed regime obtained by switching the RF discharge. In this way, pulses with peak power up to 480 W at pulse repetition frequencies in the range 1 to 10 kHz have been obtained. Pulse energy and average extracted power have been experimentally characterized with respect to the pulse repetition frequency and to the pulse duration, and the pulse shape and characteristic times have been measured. We also investigated the propagation properties of the beam emerging from our laser.     

Spectroscopic comparison of aluminium welding plasmas produced by high power CO and CO2 lasers

Welding tests on the aluminium alloy AlMgSi1 (6082) by the use of a high power CO laser with good beam quality show higher penetration depths and better weld seam quality compared with the results obtained with a commercial industrial CO₂ laser. Spectroscopy of the laser-induced welding plasma shows a strong decrease of the intensities of Al(II) lines and no appearance of Al(III) lines in CO laser aluminium welding compared with CO₂ laser welding at the same process parameters. This is a consequence of the shorter 5 to 5.6 μm wavelength of the CO laser leading to reduced beam-plasma interaction.     

On the modelling of the power extraction problem from a gas-dynamic CO2 laser considering the variations of intensity

In this paper a new simple model for investigation of the power extraction process from a gas-dynamic laser (GDL) is presented. This analysis consists of a numerical solution of non-equilibrium supersonic flow in the laser cavity and, simultaneously, point-by-point numerical integration of the laser intensity in the beam direction. The simplest cavity, that is a Fabry-Perot with parallel mirrors, is used. This model gives the variation of intensity in the flow direction, without any specific assumptions. The behaviours of all interesting quantities are obtained and compared with other existing models.     

In-process high power CO2 laser beam position sensing

The case for in-process sensing is one of the strengths of laser materials processing, both in the variety of signals obtainable from the process and the range of techniques for beam guidance. It is known that beam/nozzle alignment is of importance for high quality laser cutting. Thus, an in-process beam position sensing system was devised in this study as one of the potential tools for automation of the cutting process. Further, if the beam could be stabilized at a given location automatically this would be equivalent to relocating the laser beam. Laser beam position sensing is the first step towards this goal. The aim of this study is to create a beam position sensing system. This work presents a new approach using a rotating slit, a focusing lens and a photodetector. An automatic alignment procedure is also investigated.     

Short single-mode CO2 laser pulse generation by pulsed Q-switching

A simple method for the generation of short, single-mode CO₂ laser pulses produced by applying two voltage gates (of amplitude 3U_λ/4 and U_λ/4) to an electro-optic Q-switch placed in a three-mirror cavity is proposed. Single, single-mode, well-synchronizable pulses of 3 ns duration and of 3 mJ energy have been experimentally achieved from a TEA CO₂ laser with an intracavity Pockels cell with 3 ns switching time. Using a numerical simulation it is shown that with shorter switching time (≈1 ns) the method enables one to obtain, from such a laser, a single, megawatt pulse of 1 ns duration.     

The effects of power rippling on CO2 laser cutting

A power rippling method was proposed in this study to improve the cut edge quality by disturbing the natural frequency of the periodic striations in high power C0₂ laser cutting. A pilot study was also designed and set up to examine the power responsibility of the laser system, which is externally controlled by a modulated analogue signal from a signal generator. Several aspects were examined in this study. The effects of different power rippling frequencies on the cut surface roughness is the first such aspect, and the different power modulation depth on cut surface roughness is another. The power rippling shape is the third important parameter examined in this study. It was found that the amplitude and frequency of the striation pattern on the cut surface were significantly affected by the characteristics of the rippling power. Cutting quality can be significantly improved by rippling the laser power.     

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.     

Gain and saturation intensity parameters in a transverse-flow CO2 laser

Details of an experimental investigation of the output characteristics of the 1.2 kW cw transverse-flow, electrically excited CO₂ laser are presented. They were used for estimation of the saturation intensity and the laser cavity loss values, as they follow from the Rigrod-type model of laser operation. The saturation intensity parameter was calculated from measurements of the output power and small signal gain performed with the same experimental conditions. Measurements of the small signal gain were conducted at different points along the gas flow direction for several laser operational parameters described by gas pressure and input electrical power.     

Collimation testing of a CO2 laser beam with a shearing interferometer

A shearing interferometer based on a Michelson interferometer is proposed for collimation testing of a CO₂ laser beam. The shear and tilt between the interfering wavefronts is obtained by replacing one or both mirrors of the Michelson interferometer with double mirrors arranged to act as 90 ° or near 90 ° prisms in retroreflecting mode. Detailed analysis for two experimental configurations of this system are presented.     

Diffusion of excited state molecules in FIR- and CO2-lasers

Both standing waves in laser oscillators and spatially inhomogenous cross sections of laser beam and pumprate cause a non-uniform distribution of excited state molecules in longitudinal and transversal direction, respectively. This spatial hole burning however is smoothed by diffusion of the excited molecules. The effect of diffusion is investigated theoretically for an optically pumped far infrared laser as well as the corresponding CO₂ pump laser. It is found, that the remaining spatial hole burning in the direction of wave propagation is negligible within CO₂ lasers but not within FIR lasers. Concerning the transversal direction it can be shown that in the FIR laser diffusion takes no effect, whereas the transversal distribution of the excited molecules in the CO₂ laser is significantly influenced by diffusion.FIR ring lasers avoid longitudinal spatial hole burning, which leads to the common assumption that they use the active medium more efficient than conventional standing wave lasers, hence delivering higher output powers. This expected advantage is levelled out to a great extent by diffusion.     

Far infrared stimulated emissions from CO2 laser excited dichloromethane

Six new far-infrared laser frequencies have been obtained in CO₂-laser excited dichloromethane. Competing transitions have enabled assignments to be made to the v₇ band.     

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.     

A compact TEA CO2 laser for field-based spectrochemical analysis of geological samples

A compact capacitor-transfer TEA CO₂ laser of 180 mJ output energy and 50 ns pulse duration in half width was designed and constructed for field use. This laser is suitable for laser microprobe spectrochemical analysis on geological and mining samples. Experiments show that the use of helium as a surrounding gas suppresses the continuous emission spectrum of the plasma, thus increasing the S/N ratio. Using glass as standard samples, the minimum detectable concentrations are estimated with Zn neutral line and F ionic line to be 60 ppm and 500 ppm, respectively.     

Temperature distribution along oversized hollow-core waveguides for CO2 laser radiation

Temperature distributions along various hollow waveguides are fully analysed experimentally when the waveguides are excited by CO₂ laser light. It is shown that the temperature decreases in an oscillatory manner along the waveguides due to the interference effect of guided modes. The distributors are well explained by a theory developed previously.     

A compact, highly stable CW CO2 laser without brewster windows

We describe an open resonator, quasi sealed-off; 70cm cavity length CO₂ laser with very high stability of power and frequency, which lases on 96 lines from 9R42 (2W) to 10P52 (5W) with a power of >11W on 9R20, 9P20, 10R20 and 10P20, plus on 18 hotband lines with ≈2W. This laser was used successfully to pump an FIR ring laser [1] enabling an FIR power stability of ΔP/P ≈ 10⁻⁴ by use of a simple PI control loop, thus demonstrating its superb frequency stability.     

RF generator for compact CO2 waveguide lasers

This letter reports the fabrication and testing of a compact Radio Frequency Generator (Oscillator-Amplifier) for its integration in a CO₂ waveguide laser. The circuit uses a common source MOSFET transistor that has been modified for self-sustained oscillations impedance-matched to 50 Ω. RF power is supplied to the laser resonant cavity made of a ceramic-metal slab which is placed between a negative branch unstable optical resonator.     

Mathematical modeling of tunable TEA CO2 lasers

A mathematical model, based on the Landau–Teller equations of six-temperature model for the CO₂–N₂–He–CO system, to describe the process of dynamic emission in tunable TEA CO₂ lasers is introduced. In this model, the Landau–Teller equations are rewritten with regard to fine longitudinal mode frequencies in the laser resonator. These revised equations can be utilized to estimate the laser output spectra as well as other laser output pulse parameters. Examples are given to show the modeling results of non-tunable, grating tuned or injection-locking TEA CO₂ lasers.     

Multi-channel slab CO2 laser excitation with resonant cavities

A unique way of driving a multi-channel RF excited slab laser is presented. Resonant cavity techniques are employed to provide high power splitting and impedance transformation. Uniform and isolated power division was observed in eight discharge channels, stacked in a radial array, referred to as the Zodiac geometry. Impedance matching networks were not necessary as the RF cavity splitter creates a near ideal voltage source capable of driving any impedance. With 8 out of the 24 electrodes driven in the radial array, optical powers in excess of 1.2 kW have been observed at efficiencies of 12%.     

Theoretical study of hybrid TEA–CO2 lasers

Temporal and spatial analysis of dynamics of hybrid transversely excited atmospheric pressure (TEA)–CO₂ lasers is studied using two different models with four and eight energy levels. These models are used for simulation of the laser and computing the output energy. Effects of several parameters such as input energies and gas mixture concentrations (especially presence of CO molecules) are also studied.     

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.