Curved mirror lasers and methods of operating same

Laser apparatus comprising in combination:

• means for providing laser action, including a gaseous laser gain medium, a bendable laser tube having a longitudinal bore for containing said gaseous layer gain medium, and a pair of concave end mirrors facing each other via said gaseous laser gain medium and bore;
• and
• means for mounting said end mirrors and said bendable tube and permitting bending of said tube;
• one of said end mirrors having a center of curvature situated between said end mirrors at a distance from the other end mirror of up to one-eighth of the distance between said end mirrors through said longitudinal bore;
• and
• said other end mirror having a center of curvature situated between said end mirrors at a distance from each of said end mirrors of at least three eighth of the distance between said end mirrors through said longitudinal bore.

Laser apparatus comprising in combination:

• means for providing laser action, including a gaseous laser gain medium, a bendable laser tube containing said gaseous laser gain medium, and a pair of concave end mirrors mounted at opposite ends of said laser tube and facing each other via said gaseous laser gain medium;
• and
• means for mounting said laser tube including a container having wall portions laterally spaced from said laser tube, and material for potting said laser tube in said container;
• one of said end mirrors having a center of curvature situated between said end mirrors at a distance from the other end mirror of up to one-eighth of the distance between said end mirrors through said longitudinal bore;
• and
• said other end mirror having a center of curvature situated between said end mirrors at a distance from each of said end mirrors of at least three eighth of the distance between said end mirrors through said longitudinal bore.

In a method of providing laser action, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

• providing a laser gain medium;
• providing a pair of concave end mirrors facing each other via said laser gain medium by providing one of said mirrors with a center of curvature situated between said end mirrors at a distance from the other end mirror of up to one-eighth of the distance between said end mirrors through said laser gain medium and providing said other end mirror with a center of curvature situated between said end mirrors at a distance from each of said end mirrors of at least three-eighth of the distance between said end mirrors through said laser gain medium;
• permitting said end mirrors to tilt;
• and
• providing laser action with said laser gain medium and tilted concave end mirrors.

In a method of providing laser action, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

• providing a gaseous laser gain medium;
• containing said gaseous laser gain medium in a bendable laser tube having a longitudinal bore;
• providing a pair of concave end mirrors facing each other via said gaseous laser gain medium and bore by providing one of said mirrors with a center of curvature situated between said end mirrors at a distance from the other end mirror of up to one-eighth of the distance between said end mirrors through said longitudinal bore and providing said other end mirror with a center of curvature situated between said end mirrors at a distance from each of said end mirrors of at least three-eighth of the distance between said end mirrors through said longitudinal bore;
• bending said laser tube;
• and
• providing laser action with said gaseous laser gain medium and end mirrors at least while said laser tube is bent.

In a method of providing laser action, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

• providing a gaseous laser gain medium;
• containing said gaseous laser gain medium in a bendable laser tube;
• providing a pair of concave end mirrors facing each other via said gaseous laser gain medium by providing one of said mirrors with a center of curvature situated between said end mirrors at a distance from the other end mirror of up to one-eighth of the distance between said end mirrors and providing said other end mirror with a center of curvature situated between said end mirrors at a distance from each of said end mirrors of at least three-eighth of the distance between said end mirrors;
• providing a container for said laser tube having wall portions laterally spaced from said laser tube;
• potting said laser tube in said container with a potting material;
• and
• providing laser action with said end mirrors and gaseous laser gain medium in said potted laser tube.