Abstract

Compact TEA CO₂ lasers which combine high peak power, good frequency stability, and good longitudinal mode purity are of interest in laser ranging techniques using heterodyne detection. Short-cavity short-gain-length lasers provide particularly simple laser transmitters with good mode purity at peak powers of 400 kW.¹ Recently scaling of the discharge length to increase the peak power to ~1 MW has been studied² and acceptable mode purity demonstrated. Further increases in peak power in the two-mirror cavity laser are prohibited by lack of mode selectivity.

© 1983 Optical Society of America