Abstract

Copper HyBrID lasers are the most efficient high-power lasers that operate directly in the visible spectral region. Recently, a HyBrID laser was reported which produced an average output power of 201 W at an efficiency (based on stored energy) of 1.9%, and 120 W at an efficiency of 3.2%.¹ In the HyBrID laser, copper bromide is produced in situ in the laser active region by reaction of HBr (added to the flowing Ne buffer gas) with pieces of copper metal there. In order to scale these lasers to higher average output powers (or smaller size for the same output power), it is important to determine the maximum output power that can be generated from a given volume of the active medium, and the discharge conditions for which it can be achieved. We will describe the attainment of a record average specific output power for self-terminating atomic copper lasers of any type.

© 1994 Optical Society of America