Stabilized CO2laser source for 10.6 micron heterodyne communication system

A CO2laser oscillator has been developed for use as a stable 10.6 micron source is a single video channel FM heterodyne communication system. The laser uses a sealed-off Brewster window discharge tube which is mounted in a stable, yet relatively light weight cavity structure. The transmitter laser is capable of 1.5 watts power output in a single transverse mode with single wavelength operation maintained over an indefinite period by use of a temperature control system for the cavity. The receiver local oscillator is identical except for a grating wavelength selector which reduces the available power to 0.8 watts.