A FREQUENCY STABILIZED COMPACT HIGH REPETITION RATE TEA-CO2 LASER

A compact atmospheric-pressure hybrid CO//2 laser utilizing a transverse double-discharge technique has been constructed and operated at moderate repetition rates. A pulse output energy of 80 mJ has been obtained under single-mode conditions at repetition frequencies of 100 Hz. Using the hybrid technique to obtain single-longitudinal-mode operation, authors have been able to reach a 7 khz long-term relative frequency instability between the TEA laser and a local oscillator. Measurements of the frequency sweeping during the pulse tail (chirp) are also presented along with a direct measurement of the resonant frequency pulling effect associated with the real part of the electric susceptibility of the gas. Limitations on the pulse repetition frequency for this laser configuration are also discussed.