A Novel Q‐switched CO2 Laser and its Applications. Issue 5 (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Staupendahl, Gisbert
• Is Part Of: Laser technik journal. Volume 11:Issue 5(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 25
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: Lasers -- Periodicals; Lasers -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 621.36605
• DOI: 10.1002/latj.201400050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-7728

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>For the efficient treatment of a broad variety of materials, pulsed CO₂ laser radiation is well‐suited. But nevertheless, CO₂ lasers are well established in industrial processes, a significant disadvantage of all previously basicavailable commercial systems, which are suitable for material processing, is their restricted pulsability. This is not caused by the amplification properties of the active medium, but by the wavelength of about 10 μm. In this region the spectrum of optical materials, which can be used for modulation, especially Q‐switching, is rather limited. In principle for acousto‐optic modulation only Ge and for electro‐optic modulation only CdTe are suitable materials. But both semiconductors are relatively power‐sensitive and therefore Q‐switching of conventional CO₂ lasers is typically limited to less than 100 W of average power. This problem can be solved by the new resonator concept described below [1]. The aim is the optimum transformation of the potentially available power (cw up to the kW range) into average power of the pulsed radiation.</p> </abstract>