Significant efforts have been expended in the industry to improve optics for CO2 laser processing. A new type of transmissive optical design utilizing an air-cooled doublet lens is described here which enables both manufacturers and users to benefit from the many advantages of transmissive optic designs at power levels of 2,000 - 20,000 Watts cw without the typical thermal distortion that occurs in this power regime.

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Klein
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© 1997 Laser Institute of America.
1997
Laser Institute of America
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