The role ofE/pin waveguide CO2TE lasers

摘要

The role of the electric field to pressure ratio (E/p) in waveguide CO2TE lasers is shown to be different from that in conventional CO2TE lasers. For waveguide CO2TE lasers, the optimumE/pin the positive column is greater than that which produces the most efficient excitation of CO2vibrational levels, because of the necessity to reduce the detrimental effects of the power dissipated in the cathode fall region of the discharge. Experimental results on smallhyphen;signal gain versus input energy as a function ofE/pare shown to be in agreement with theory. Implications for device design are discussed.