Alexander V. Bondarenko

Coupled CO2 lasers

This paper reviews experimental results obtained during research on the possibility of developing high power laser systems based on coupled CO2 laser arrays. Resonator mirrors were used for individual laser coupling and the Talbot effect and spatial filters were used for phase locking of laser arrays. New methods of phase locking of individual lasers are discussed. Far-field intensity distributions of coupled CO2 lasers and laser arrays are presented. The aperture filling method of main lobe energy maintenance increase is described and generation stability of coupled lasers is considered. The realization of a coherent energy regime of individual lasers in array is a possible method of improving radiation divergence and developing high power and compact CO2 lasers for industrial applications

Regular and chaotic pulsations of radiation intensity in a CO2 laser with modulated parameters

The experimental and theoretical investigations of radiation dynamic in a system of two optically-coupled C02-lasers and in a periodically - pumped COlaser are carried out. In a optically-coupled lasers on the edge of theirs locke- band and in a periodically-pumped laser near threshold the transition of lasers to the chaotic generation through subsequent period-doubling bifurcations are experimentally revealed. A good agreement between experimental and theoretical results was obtained.