We report the preliminary experimental results obtained from an annular radio-frequency excitedCO2laser with a Talbot cavity and a phase correcting mirror external to the cavity. The Talbot cavity is adopted in order to reduce the number of oscillating azimuthal modes. The use of the external profile-modulated mirror is aimed at reducing the beam phase modulation and thus increasing the amount of fundamental annular mode energy content. The beam quality results to be sensibly increased. ©1998 American Institute of Physics.