Development of a 20-k W Fast-Axial-Flow CO2 Laser

A 20 k W fast-axial-flow CO2 laser has been realized by using high-frequency turboblowers developed especially for laser operation. Each of the two high-frequency turboblowers utilized in the equipment has a revolution of 8, 800 rpm, a gas flow rate of 8.4 m3/s, and an adiabatic head of 4, 000 kg-m/kg. The equipment has six discharge-tubes connected optically in series, and each is 134 mm in diameter, and 1, 000 mm in length. Thelaser output power of 20 k W is extracted from an unstable resonator. The output beam through a zinc-selenidewindow has a diameter of 90 mm.