External optical feedback element for tuning a multi-wavelength gas laser

Abstract

An external optical feedback element () for tuning an output beam of a gas laser () having multiple wavelengths includes a partially reflective optical element () positioned on a beam path of the output beam () outside of an internal optical cavity of the gas laser (), and a stage () to support the optical element and adjust rotation, horizontal tilt angle, and vertical tilt angle of the optical element with respect to the beam path. The output beam () is partially reflected at the optical element () and fed back into the internal optical cavity of the gas laser (), with the intensity varying for multiple wavelengths and adjusted by changing rotation, horizontal tilt angle and vertical tilt angle of the optical element. Thereby, a variable feedback of the output beam into the internal optical cavity of the gas laser is provided, which leads to a selective output wavelength of the gas laser, either at a single line or at multiple lines simultaneously. This setup may allow to control the wavelength of a commercial CO2 gas laser without a modification of the laser itself by adding a coupled cavity with a wavelength selective element like a grating to the given gas laser resonator.