A Curve-Fitting Technique for the Determination of Gain and Saturation Intensity in Homogeneously-Broadened Gas Lasers Application to a Waveguide CO2 Laser

摘要

A least squares curve-fitting algorithm is derived which allows the simultaneous estimation of the small signal gain and the saturation intensity from an arbitrary number of data points relating power output to the incidence angle of an internal coupling plate. The method is used to study the dependence of the two parameters on tube pressure and discharge current in a waveguide CO2 laser having a 2 mm diameter capillary. It is found that, at pressures greater than 28 torr, rising CO2 temperature degrades the small signal gain at current levels as low as three milliamperes. (Author)