Frequency stabilization of a radio frequency excited CO2 laser using the optogalvanic effect

Abstract

Frequency stabilization of a rf excited CO2 laser on the peak of the Doppler broadened gain curve using the optogalvanic effect generated from the laser itself is achieved. The optogalvanic signal is directly coupled from a rf discharge chamber via a capacitor into a detector and a lock-in stabilizer. The frequency stability is estimated to be better then 3×10-8. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.