Role of Heated Gas Self-Absorption on CW CO2 Laser System Output

Abstract

In this research, the effect of self-absorption by the active medium molecules on the output power of a continuous-wave carbon dioxide laser at low pressures was studied. The effect of the discharge current, output mirror transmittance, and total gas pressure on the laser output power was discussed. It was observed that self-absorption depends on the concentration of carbon dioxide molecules, the output mirror transmittance of the optical resonator, and the discharge current used, and that there is a threshold value for both the transmittance and the discharge current at which absorption significantly affects the output power.