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.