In this paper, experimental and theoretical studies of the output mode characteristics of an in-phase locked gain waveguide array CO 2 laser are reported. The experimental results of the optical oscillation mode frequency, the far-field intensity distribution and the burnt pattern of the sliced waveguide array laser are obtained. A revised mode expression of the rectangle waveguide, which is suited for this waveguide array CO 2 laser, is proposed. The theoretical simulation results based on the revised mode expression are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental results.