Improved Performance of Fast-Axial-Flow, RF-Discharge-Excited, Room-Temperature CO Laser with Kr-Added Mixtures

Abstract

The fast-axial-flow, RF-discharge-excited, room-temperature CO laser greatly increased the specific output power, from 2.2 W/cm3 (electrical conversion efficiency: 9.5%) in the absence of Kr gas to 3.9 W/cm3 (electrical conversion efficiency: 16.5%), by adding Kr gas to the laser gas. Kr addition is considered to have various effects, including the increase in the vibrational excitation efficiency of CO molecules due to the lowering of mean electron energy, the increase in electron density, and reduction in CO2 concentration due to the decrease in electrically excited CO molecules. Among these effects, the increase in vibrational excitation efficiency and electron density have been found to be significant. The effect is improved up to over 80% of the Xe addition effect.