A 15 Kilowatt CW CO2 Coaxial Electric Discharge Laser

Abstract

The optimization of a Electric Discharge Coaxial Laser (EDCL) System is described. This CW carbon dioxide laser extracts power in excess of 15 kilowatts routinely at an electrical efficiency of 25 percent and a mass flow efficiency in excess of 100 kw/1b sub m/sec. With the appropriate resonator optics, the output intensity distribution is circular, uniform, temporarily stable, and repeatable within 5 percent. This EDCL is a high power output device offering simplicity of construction, low cost, high reliability, and ease of operation as compared to alternative transverse gas flow laser systems.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA030724

Entities

People

  • Randolph L. Carlson

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Forces
  • Air Force
  • Carbon Dioxide Lasers
  • Creep
  • Current Density
  • Current Regulators
  • Electric Discharges
  • Flow Rate
  • Gas Flow
  • Glow Discharges
  • Impedance
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Resonators
  • Lasers
  • Mach Number
  • Materials
  • Measurement

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electronics Engineering
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers