Experimental study of small-signal gain and laser beam parameters in high-power pulse-repetitive rf-excited slab CO2 lasers

The paper presents the results of measuring of the small-signal gain in the active medium of the high-power pulserepetitive RF-excited slab C02-laser. The measurements were carried out for the pumping pulse durations in the range 20.50 Ls and pulse repetition rates 100.500 Hz. The maximal specific energy, delivered to the active medium, was 430 W/cm3. In the experiment were measured the average output power of radiation, pulse energy and power and the output beam divergence.