Optical-gain measurements in a cw transverse-discharge transverse-gas-flow CO2:N2:He planar-waveguide laser

Optical-gain measurements are reported for a dc-excited planar-hollow-waveguide CO2: N2: He laser for which the gas flow and discharge current are collinear, and both are transverse to the optical axis of the waveguide. A spatially uniform thin-sheet glow discharge was demonstrated for gas pressures between 80 and 400 Torr, using transverse dc excitation. The dependence of optical gain upon gas composition, gas pressure, discharge current, and wall temperature was characterized for a 1-mm-high planar hollow waveguide. Optimum gain was 4 dB/m at a pressure of 100 Torr and a wall temperature of 233 °K.