NEW BAR CATHODE SYSTEM FOR CW CO2 TRANSVERSELY EXCITED LASERS

A new bar cathode system that is simple and easy to construct was developed. Its characteristics were investigated and compared with a conventional multipin cathode system. The result demonstrated that transversely excited CO//2 lasers employing both cathode systems have similar characteristics and also gave about 10 kW output, although oscillation mode patterns of both systems differed a little from each other. The studies showed that we should be able to get a uniform gain distribution and a uniform oscillation mode with a cathode system consisting of variously shaped bars.