We describe the development and operation of a regenerative, cryogenically-formed discharge waveguide formed by freezing nitrous oxide gas onto the inner wall of a sapphire capillary. We demonstrate a technique for varying the channel diameter in situ and present guiding of low-power laser pulses through 6-cm long waveguides with channel diameters of 0.7, 0.8, and 1 mm. Measurements and simulations of the output laser fluence showed that the matched spot size could be adjusted with the thickness of the solid nitrous oxide layer.

• Received 16 October 2020
• Accepted 26 July 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.24.091301

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Published by the American Physical Society