HIGH-POWER FAST-FLOWING AND WAVEGUIDE CW CO_2 LASERS FOR MATERIAL PROCESSING WITH ELEVATED TECHNOLOGICAL BEAM QUALITY

摘要

To withstand the strict requirements of modern industry and medicine to laser beam quality, a lot of special researches have been undertaken concerning:(a) gas discharge stability and uniformity;(b) enhancement of active medium optical nonuniformities in the presence of laser generation;(c) new concepts of optical resonators;(d) beam power modulation with a controllable coupling mirror.A series of fast-transverse-flow CO_2-lasers, based on "segmented-anode" discharge geometry, has been designed for laser output powers in 1.5-4 kW range. High optical quality (Gaussian beam) was provided by means of a phase-profiled output mirror.A series of fast-transverse-flow CO_2-lasers, based on "segmented-cathode" discharge geometry, has been designed for laser output powers in 5.0-10.0 kW range. Gaussian beam quality was provided by means of "stable-unstable" resonator scheme.A series of waveguide multichannel multibeam diffusion-cooled CO_2-lasers, based on electrodeless AC discharge, has been designed for laser output powers in 2.0-6.0 kW range.A series of 0.5 and 1.0 kW waveguide multichannel monobeam diffusion-cooled CO_2-lasers, based on electrodeless AC discharge, has been designed for thin sheet materials cutting in industry and for laser transmyocardial revascularization in surgery.