High Power CO 2 Laser Development Within The Eureka Project

The results of our contribution to the first phase of the EUREKA project (EU-3) are discussed within this paper. Development of high power CO laser systems in the power range of 10 - 100 kw has been investigated theoretically concerning excitation techniques and resonator design. Rf-excitation of the active medium may have advantages due to high discharge stability and modulation bandwidth. Possible advantages and feasibility of an oscillator-amplifier system are discussed concerning beam quality, modulation capability, amplification length, and discharge efficiency. The oscillator-amplifier system appears to be an alternative to a oscillator system.