ABSTRACT
We show how a varifocal pulsed gas lens, the colliding shock lens, can be used as an intracavity element to Q switch a ruby laser. By placement of the shock lens in tandem with a second lens, a giant pulse is obtained. The second lens may be a conventional glass lens or a continuous-wave gas lens.
ABSTRACT
A numerical model of a three-mirror resonator for a TE CO(2) laser was developed. This model was used to determine if a three-mirror resonator with an etalon could be used to ensure tunable single-mode action on the lower gain lines of CO(2). Single-mode pulse energies were also predicted and good agreement was found with experimentally measured values. An analysis of the thermal frequency drift of the resonator is also presented.
ABSTRACT
A gas lens is used to focus a megawatt ruby laser beam on to a target to create a plasma. By using focal plane photographs and Faraday cup plasma diagnostics, the focusing ability of a gas lens is compared with an equivalent glass lens. In this experiment the gas lens compares favorably when the laser beam has a divergence of ~1 mrad.
