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The progress of the development of an 1kW, 1kHz XeC1 laser is reported. The laser consists of a low loss gas circulation system, a corona-plasma cathode x-ray pre-ioniser, and a pre-pulse main-pulse excitatation circuit generating long optical pulses. The performances of the pre-ioniser and the electrical circuit are described.

Abstract. We observed and compared the opto-voltaic signals in CO and COz lasers. The signals are obtained capacitively from the water cooling jacket as a low voltage source not influencing the current circuit. We observed from measurement that the output power and the so-called optovoltaic input power have a distinct relationship depending on laser current and cavity parameters. It will be shown that opto-voltaic detection is a very sensitive method especially for CO lasers. PACS: 42.55, 42.60, 42.80 The phenomenon of static resistance fluctuation in a cw laser discharge due to the intra-cavity coherent radiation is well-known as opto-voltaic or optogalvanic effect [1]. It was used succesfully for stabilizing a single line CO2 laser with high accuracy [1,2], the alignment of a laser cavity [3], and the detection of radiation [4] in COz lasers. In general, the resistance fluctuations of the discharge due to laser-action in a current stabilized or ballast resistor regime results in fluctuations of the power that is dissipated in the discharge, and hence in temperature variations of the plasma and the discharge tube. We shall analyze and compare the opto-voltaic effects in CO and COz lasers having intra cavity modulation. It will be shown that the potential of the cooling water jacket which is capacitively coupled to the plasma is equal to half the maximum opto-voltaic value of the discharge.