TUNABLE SINGLE-MODE OPERATION OF A $CO_{2}$ TE LASER BY MEANS OF INTRACAVITY SELECTIVE ABSORBERS

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1979

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Ohio State University

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Frequently control of a single-line TE $CO_{2}$ laser is usually implemented by means of an intracavity etalon or gain cell or by means of injection control. For a sufficiently short cavity, no additional element is required for single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) operation, and tuning can be achieved by simply varying the resonator length. In this paper, we report results of experiments using a gas-phase intracavity absorber as a mode-selecting element This method was reported earlier using $SF_{6}$ to control a low-energy 10 $\mu m CO_{2}$ TE $laser,^{1}$ but here we extend this technique to the 9.6 $\mu m$ band and to a high-energy TEA laser. We demonstrate the generality of this mode-selecting approach in achieving SLM operation on two lasing lines using nine different absorbing species. The continuous tuning capability of the laser is shown for each absorber.

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$^{1}$A. Nurmikko, T. A. DeTemple, and S. E. Schwarz, Appl. Phys. Lett, 18, 130 (1971), and T. DeTemple and A. Nurmikko, Opt. Commun. 4, 231 (1971). $^{*}$Department of Electrical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409. Work performed under the auspices of the U. S. Department of Energy.
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