Improved performance of small and compact TEA pulsed HF lasers employing semiconductor preionisers
(EN)
Rickwood, KR
(EN)
Serafetinides, AA
(EN)
The design and performance characteristics of an atmosheric pressure, semiconductor-preionized pulsed transverse HF laser are given. Uniform stable glow discharges of 0.03l have been produced in flowing mixtures of SF6, C3H8 and He gases giving laser output energies up to 110 mJ, peak output powers up to 4.4 Mw, efficiencies up to 12%, specific energy extractions up to 36 J l-1 and repetition rates up to 100 Hz. The efficiency and specific energy extraction figures compare favorably with other figures reported up to date for these lasers, making them promising candidates for a number of applications including infrared fiber communications research and vitreous surgery.
(EN)
