High-efficiency RF signal coupled to a CO2 waveguide slab laser

We demonstrate experimentally that a self-sustained radio frequency (RF) signal delivered from our most-compact RF circuit generator is efficiently integrated into a CO2 waveguide laser slab, impedance-matched electrode. The whole circuit uses a common source MOSFET transistor that will be modified for self-sustained oscillations terminated at 50 Omega. RF power is directly integrated into the laser resonant cavity of the laser ceramic-metal slab (the electrode). Measurement showed the power efficiency of the oscillator circuit to be more than 70%, and the overall electrical-to-optical power efficiency conversion was larger than the standard 10%. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.