Expand this Topic clickable element to expand a topic
Skip to content
Optica Publishing Group

Polarization states and output powers of a CO2 laser with an electro-optic phase retarder

Not Accessible

Your library or personal account may give you access

Abstract

We study the power output and polarization state of a CO2 laser that contains both passive polarization-sensitive elements (Brewster plates) and an active phase-retarding electro-optic modulator (CdTe crystal). The theoretical threshold condition (i.e., the retardation required to extinguish the laser) is obtained from a cavity round-trip Jones matrix. We show that adding extra Brewster plates may be counterproductive in that the required retardation voltage increases. We calculated the output power, which depends on the saturated gain properties of the active media, by iterative modeling, with the elliptically polarized light propagated repeatedly around the cavity. We compare the theory with results from a folded rf-excited waveguide CO2 laser (Laser Ecosse Model CM3500). Theory and experiment are in fair agreement for low powers. As expected, at high powers there are extra difficulties in modeling the cavity behavior, probably because of distortions induced in and by the crystal.

© 1996 Optical Society of America

Full Article  |  PDF Article
More Like This
Frequency-switchable CO2 laser: design and performance

R. L. Shoemaker, R. E. Scotti, B. Comaskey, and M. Jose Soto
Appl. Opt. 21(5) 961-966 (1982)

Hollow-waveguide delivery systems for high-power, industrial CO2 lasers

Ricky K. Nubling and James A. Harrington
Appl. Opt. 35(3) 372-380 (1996)

Cited By

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Figures (6)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Tables (1)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article tables are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Equations (10)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Equations are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Select as filters


Select Topics Cancel
© Copyright 2024 | Optica Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved