A sealed 100-Hz CO₂TEA laser using high CO₂concentrations and ambient-temperature catalysts

Abstract

Prolonged operation of compact sealed CO2 TEA lasers has been achieved at pulsed repetition frequencies up to 100 Hz, with the high CO2 levels (50% and above) needed for maximum peak power output per unit discharge volume. This has hitherto been prevented by the inability to recombine the dissociation products CO and O2 rapidly enough in high-CO2, high-PRF conditions. This has now been achieved through the first use of an unheated SnO2-Pd catalyst (active at -26°C) placed in the mainstream of gas circulated inside the laser. More than 2.5 × 106pulses have been obtained, with no evidence of a limit to the life through decline in catalyst activity or deterioration of the gas discharge