Generation of short single-mode pulses from TEA CO2 laser with three-mirror cavity

A method for the generation of short, single-mode CO2 laser pulses by applying two voltage gates to an electro-optic Q-switch placed in a three-mirror cavity is proposed. The results of experimental and numerical tests of the method for a TEA CO2 laser are presented. It is shown that the method enables the user to obtain single megawatt pulses of duration in the 1 - 10 ns range.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.