A pair of elongated, parallel electrodes (91,92) are insulatively mounted within a tubular housing (111) filled with a laser gas mixture between an arrangement of reflective optical elements (120,150) sealingly mounted at each end of the housing. The electrodes form a rectangular gas discharge area (40) the minimum spacing (a) between which is the diameter of the fundamental free-space mode of the stable, laser resonator (17) formed in the gap when the electrodes are rf excited (13). A multi-pass optical configuration (30,50) uses the full width (b) of the active medium to produce a high power, compact laser (10,200). Deformable support rings (97) are compressed to push the electrodes apart against small cylindrical spacers (99) abutting the inner walls of the housing to maintain the electrodes' spatial relationship. The rf feeds (103) sealingly (112) connected to the electrodes through the housing without disturbing the uniform distribution of forces on the electrodes. Air cooled heatsinks (161,162, 176,177) are held tightly against while being flexibly mounted to the laser tube assembly reducing mechanical and operational torsional distortion, misalignment and instability.

Free-space gas slab laser

A method and an apparatus for detecting the wavelength of a laser beam by utilizing an optogalvano effect based upon atoms or molecules in the plasma. Atoms or molecules in the plasma are irradiated with a laser beam. The impedance of the plasma at this moment is detected to determine whether the wavelength of the laser beam is in agreement with a predetermined absolute wavelength. The result of detection is used for controlling the wavelength of the laser beam.

Method and apparatus for detecting the wavelength of a laser beam

The invention concerns a method and apparatus to produce a noble-gas plasma for excitation in optical emission spectrometry. The apparatus includes an hf generator feeding an oscillation circuit consisting of at least one inductor and one capacitor. The capcitor includes at least two capacitor plates which are so shaped and mutually arranged that they enclose a cavity in which the plasma may form.

Method and apparatus for producing an hf-induced noble-gas plasma

Driver circuitry with a tuned output impedance is provided. Tuning is provided by an isolation circuit and matching network coupled to an output of the driver circuit. The isolation circuit isolates the capacitance associated portions of the driver circuit thereby reducing overall output capacitance. The matching network substantially compensates for reactive impedances associated with other portions of the driver circuit. These tuning circuits allow the driver circuit overcome intrinsic reactance and exhibit a substantially resistive output impedance characteristic.

Driver circuitry with tuned output impedance

A gas laser design (10) includes, an elongated sealed tube (21) filled with a gas, a power supply for exciting the gas, an optical resonator (24,25) for producing directional optical energy, and a fan/electronics package assembly (50), all of which are surrounded and enclosed by an external housing (30,70,90) forming a passageway in the space between the tube and the housing for providing cooling air therethrough. The passageway is divided into two physically separated cooling air paths by a horizontal surface (21a or 41). The lower space is a dual L-shaped path defining the first cooling air path downwardly at the inlet end of the tube in the vertical air channels (31,32) formed by the contoured shape of the tube and rearwardly (33) through the spaces (27,29) between the horizontal fins (26,28) of the tube to an outlet (101) at the rear of the tube. The upper space defines the second cooling air path from the inlet end of the tube horizontally rearwardly (64) around and over the electronics package (50) mounted in that portion of the passageway in a U-shaped finned heatsink channel (53), through the spaces (61,63) between the fins (62,64) to the atmosphere at the rear end. The zone (44) under the fan (52) is common to both cooling air paths. All components related to air cooling are enclosed within the outer housing forming a compact, high power, thermally stable, gas laser assembly.

Air cooled gas laser

An improved laser power supply is disclosed. The invention is designed to provide the high electric field required for starting a laser in addition to the capability of automatically readjusting after laser action is initiated to provide an optimum impedance match for high efficiency energy transfer. The invention includes variable means for matching the impedance of a laser cavity with a source of RF energy. In addition, means are provided for sensing a change in the impedance of the laser cavity. The sensed change is then utilized to vary the impedance of the matching elements to provide and maintain an optimal coupling between the laser cavity and the RF source.

Radio frequency laser pumping system

Improved laser power supply designed to provide the high electric field required for starting a laser. This invention has the capability of automatically readjusting after laser action is initiated to provide an optimum impedance match for high efficiency energy transfer. As shown in (Fig. 1), the invention includes variable means (21) for matching the impedance of a laser cavity (14) with a source of RF energy (12). In addition, means (16) are provided for sensing a change in the impedance of the laser cavity. The additional circuitry (32-46) utilizes the sensed change to vary the impedance of the matching elements (50 & 52) to provide and maintain an optimal coupling between the laser cavity (14) and the RF source (12).

John L. Wilkerson

Papers

Radio frequency laser pumping system

Improved radio frequency laser pumping system

Rf laser-stromversorgungsgeraet.

RF Laser power supply.