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CO2 Lasers |
| As the name suggests, the active medium in a CO2 laser is carbon dioxide. Typically a mixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium, the laser gas is excited by high voltage and circulated at high velocity inside the resonator, along the optical axis. The resulting laser light has an infrared wavelength of 10.6 um; the beam is transferred to the point of use via mirrors and lenses.
New developments in the field of CO2 lasers have led to the introduction of diffusion-cooled laser resonators, which are characterized by a compact design, the absence of forced gas circulation and reduced resonator gas usage. However, these resonators use a gas mixture with a higher degree of sophistication, requiring up to six components and often involving carbon monoxide and xenon. |
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| Both gas purity and blend tolerance are critical to flawless resonator operation. As the quantity of optical components built into a resonator typically increase with the power levels involved, the effects of contaminated gases can lead to tremendous maintenance costs. Moisture and hydrocarbon levels are especially important and closely controlled by Linde through the use of high-purity base products and thorough filling procedures.
All Linde LASERLINE (PDF 387 KB) gases are blended with a +/– 2% blend tolerance. Leading laser OEMs rely on Linde’s know-how and have chosen Linde as their global supplier for laser resonator gases.
To ensure gas quality the resonator effectively, special attention must be paid to the gas supply equipment chosen (e.g., pressure regulators, hoses and fittings). Contact Us to learn how we can help fulfill all your company’s CO2 laser needs.
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