Gasdynamically Cooled CO-Laser with RF-Excitation: Optical Performance.

Kurzfassung

After achieving steady long-term operation of the rf-excited CO-laser, the output beam has been examined for different resonator geometries. Results of near- and farfield beam profile measurements are reported for multipass stable resonators. The experimental results concerning focus diameter and intensity profile are compared with theoretical calculations. Furtheron the power distribution of the different spectral lines of the CO-laser, fluctuations of single lines and of the overall output power have been investigated. A pulse mode operation of the CO-laser can be realized very easily by the rf-excitation.