Lasers

Possible self-oscillatory processes in the radiation field of a CO₂ laser with a nonlinear absorbing element

A. P. Zaikin

Samara Branch of P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract: A theoretical investigation is made of the dynamics of operation of a wide-aperture CO₂ laser containing an intracavity absorption cell with an SF₆ — NH₃ gas mixture. It is shown that one can select such parameters of the laser that the profile of its optical field is of self-oscillatory nature in a wide range of pressures of the active and nonlinear media and for various cavity dimensions. Self-wave generation is influenced mainly by the vibrational — vibrational exchange between nitrogen and CO₂ and by the vibrational — translational relaxation of the lower laser-active level of the CO₂ molecule. Each of these processes favours self-wave generation and, depending on the composition of the active medium, one or two self-wave systems can be observed. The results are obtained for situations attainable in electric-discharge and electron-beam-controlled discharge lasers.

PACS: 42.55.Lt, 42.60.Rn

Received: 10.06.1998

 English version: Quantum Electronics, 1998, 28:10, 843–846

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