Laser device
OwnerWilliam H. McMahaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A means is provided for continuously purging deleterious contaminants including water vapor, ozone and organic vapors from the resonant cavity of lasers where the resonant cavity is characterized by a gap-space between the gain medium and the optical mirror at both ends of the cavity with each of the gap-spaces being disposed within an enclosed chamber where the contaminants tend to collect. This is accomplished by connecting the interiors of the gap-space chambers through tubular gas conduits with one or more canisters which contain a chemical desiccant or molecular sieve capable of removing the unwanted gases or vapors. A molecular sieve comprised of zeolite with the appropriate intermolecular spacing is especially preferred.
Claims8
In a laser of the type wherein the resonant cavity is characterized by a gap-space between the gain medium and the optical mirror at each end of said cavity and wherein each said gap-space is enclosed by a gap-space chamber subject to fluctuating temperature, the improvement which comprises means for removing gaseous or vaporous contaminants including water vapor, organic vapors and ozone from the areas within a said gap-space chamber with said means being comprised of:
- at least one canister having its interior interconnected by a tubular conduit with the interior of at least one said gap-space chamber and wherein said canister contains solid particles of a chemical agent capable of removing the gaseous or vaporous contaminants present in the said gap-space chamber, said agent comprising a material having the properties of a molecular sieve adapted to trap and hold said contaminants and with said canister and conduit being adapted to effect in conjunction with said fluctuating chamber temperature a pumping action and flow of said contaminants from said chamber to said canister.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.