A MULTICHANNEL SLOT DISCHARGE CO2-LASER EMPLOYING A TORIC UNSTABLE RESONATOR

Experimental results on a unique multi-channel slot-type CO2 laser system fitted with a toric unstable resonator are presented. The discharge structure combines both large-area and multi-beam laser array concepts into a single, compact package. The unstable toric resonator has the unique property that optical radiation is extracted from the center of the system. Experiments have indicated that output beam characteristics are a function of the coupling aperture in the secondary mirror. Output power levels of 35 W per channel in a near diffraction limited beam have been obtained with 10% power conversion efficiency.