Numerical investigation of CW CO₂ laser with a fast turbulent flow

A fast flow CO₂ laser is investigated numerically including the effects of turbulence and convection. The model developed was applied to lasers with various discharge tube lengths. Gas flow and active medium characteristics such as temperature, velocity, small-signal gain and quantum densities were obtained along the discharge tube. The influence of the gas flow velocity and the pressure on the laser characteristics was considered. The output laser power was estimated and its increase due to turbulence and azimuthal velocity component was confirmed. The results obtained are in very good agreement with experimental data measured for a real CO₂ laser.