Segmented hollow cathode laser device

Abstract

A laser device for generating multiline emissions when appropriately energized. The device consists of two major components, an anode-cathode assembly and, in a first embodiment, an adjustable brewster end section or in a second embodiment, an integral mirror end section. The anode-cathode assembly comprises one center located short cylindrical anode and two segmented cylindrical hollow cathodes located symmetrically on each side of the anode. The anode and cathode are electrically insulated by a cylindrical metal ceramic seal. The outer surface of the cathode is covered with quartz insulating sleeves to prevent electrical discharge from the outer cathode surface and to encourage effective inner cathode discharge. The cathode is thermally connected to the external environment through a structure coupled to the cathode and the laser tube envelope thus allowing heat generated within the cathode due to the electrical discharge to be effectively conducted away thereby allowing higher input power load into the cathode for selected lasing action which requires a relatively high excitation input. A metal vapor reservoir may be provided and is preferably attached to the anode section for metal vapor laser operation. While the controlled amount of the metal vapor is released into the anode section, it is transported through each cathode section by natural diffusion and cataphoretic action which provides near uniform vapor density throughout the cathode sections. The laser device of the present invention can be made up of one or more anode-cathode assemblies depending on the laser medium and the selected output requirement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.