The Correlation Between CO2-N2-He Discharge and CO2 Laser

Abstract

A self-made CO2 laser system is used to investigate the influence of additive gases on a CO2 laser and the effect of lasing action on a CO2-N2-He discharge. The optimum condition for maximum laser power output is found to be a function of gas mixing ratio, gas flow rate, total pressure, and discharge voltage. When the CO2 laser is lasing, both the discharge current and the electron temperature will decrease due to the fact that the lasing action makes the collisional cross-sections of N2 , CO and CO2 molecules with electrons increase.