CW CARBON MONOXIDE LASER WITH MICROWAVE EXCITATION IN THE SUPERSONIC FLOW

A new technique of efficiently coupling microwave energy into a supersonic gas flow is described. The stable self-sustained microwave discharge is applied to excite a cw CO gasdynamic laser. Electron densities well above the cut-off value have been achieved together with a reduced field strength within the discharge that is appropriate for efficient vibrational excitation. With an energy loading of 0.15 eV/CO a laser power of 340 Watts is obtained at an overall efficiency of 7 %. The effect of some additives on stability and laser performance is studied