Carbon-dioxide laser

A gas laser whose electrically excited carbon dioxide molecules amplify infrared light, typically near 10.6 micrometers. It is known for high power and efficient conversion of electrical energy into laser output.

Vibrational relaxation: The transfer of energy between molecular vibrational states through collisions or other interactions. Nitrogen molecules transfer vibrational energy to carbon dioxide, helping populate the laser’s upper state.
Carbon dioxide: A linear molecule composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Its vibrational transitions provide the laser’s infrared gain.
Laser cutting: A manufacturing process that uses a focused laser beam to cut material. Carbon-dioxide lasers can cut many nonmetallic materials and some metals.
Nd:YAG laser: A solid-state laser using neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet, commonly emitting near 1.064 micrometers. Its shorter wavelength couples differently to metals and optics than carbon-dioxide output.
C. Kumar N. Patel: An Indian-American physicist who developed the carbon-dioxide laser at Bell Laboratories. Patel demonstrated the laser in 1964 and established its basic gas-mixture approach.
Population inversion: A condition in which more particles occupy an excited energy state than a lower one. The discharge creates the imbalance needed for stimulated emission in carbon dioxide.
Nitrogen: A diatomic gas whose vibrational excitation can persist long enough to transfer energy in collisions. It absorbs discharge energy and efficiently excites carbon-dioxide molecules by collision.
Laser welding: A joining process that uses a concentrated laser beam to melt and fuse materials. High-power carbon-dioxide beams have been used for industrial welding.
Fiber laser: A laser whose gain medium is an optical fiber doped with rare-earth ions. Fiber lasers often offer greater beam quality and wall-plug efficiency in metal processing.
Bell Laboratories: A research and development organization founded by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Patel developed the carbon-dioxide laser there during early laser research.

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