Laser cavities with gas flow through the electrodes

A high pressure pulsed gas laser apparatus having an optical cavity and an envelope volume substantially enclosing the optical cavity, comprising:

• an electrode assembly positioned within said envelope volume including first and second electrodes, said first and second electrodes including mesh portions which are substantially planar and parallel to one another and defining a discharge gap region therebetween,
• means for flowing a laser gas through said mesh portions of said first and second electrodes, said flow being substantially perpendicular to said mesh portions,
• said electrode assembly further including discharge initiation means adjacent said first and second electrodes for supplying initiatory electrons into said discharge gap region by means of photoemission and bulk gas ionization processes, and
• means operatively connected to said electrode assembly to supply energy to said discharge volume for sustaining a glow discharge and to control said discharge initiation means.

A high pressure pulsed gas laser apparatus having an optical cavity and an envelope volume substantially enclosing the optical cavity, comprising:

• an electrode assembly positioned within said envelope volume including first and second electrodes arranged in a substantially uniform field configuration and defining a discharge gap region therebetween,
• means for flowing a laser gas through a first portion of said envelope volume including said discharge gap region in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of said optical cavity,
• said electrode assembly further including discharge initiation means adjacent said first and second electrodes in a second portion of said envelope volume for supplying the initiatory electrons into said discharge gas region,
• pulsing means operatively connected to said electrode assembly to supply energy to said discharge volume for sustaining a glow discharge and to control said discharge initiation means for supplying electrons to said discharge gap region, said discharge initiation means including at least one rutile slab electrode pair positioned contiguous to said second electrode for producing corona discharges when pulsed by said pulsing means to irradiate said first electrode with ultraviolet radiation, said electrode assembly being so arranged and constructed that said gas flow is substantially laminar to sustain a uniform discharge in said discharge gap region.

A high pressure pulse gas laser apparatus having an optical cavity and an envelope volume substantially enclosing the optical cavity, comprising:

• an electrode assembly positioned within said envelope volume including first and second electrodes arranged in a substantially uniform field configuration and defining a discharge gap region therebetween,
• means for flowing a laser gas through a first portion of said envelope volume including said discharge gap region in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of said optical cavity,
• said electrode assembly further including discharge initiation means adjacent said first and second electrodes in a second portion of said envelope volume for supplying initiatory electrons into said discharge gap region,
• said first and second electrodes being profiled in a tapered nozzle-like configuration to enhance rapid laminar flow through the discharge volume and wherein said discharge initiation means is located adjacent the broadest cross section of said tapered nozzle-like configuration, and
• means operatively connected to said electrode assembly to supply energy to said discharge volume for sustaining a glow discharge and to control said discharge initiation means for supplying electrons to said discharge gap region.