Gas laser preionization device
AssigneeNorthrop Corporation
InventorsDavid E. Cohn, Eugene E. Conley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas laser having preionization means which comprises an elongated glass tube extending beside the glow discharge volume for the length of the laser cavity, there being a central conductor inside the tube and a conductive strip or spaced strips bonded to the outside of the tube. The inner wire and outer strip are connected respectively to the same high voltage pulse leads which provide the main laser discharge. Ultraviolet radiation from the conductive strips on the tube preionizes the laser gas and creates a stable uniform laser electric discharge.
Claims20
A gas laser including:
- an elongated housing defining a resonant gas cavity through the center of which an optical axis extends longitudinally;
- a pair of opposed electrodes extending longitudinally and disposed on opposite sides of said optical axis;
- and
- means, disposed within said housing, for producing ultraviolet radiation for preionizing gas in said laser comprising a hollow dielectric tube extending parallel to said optical axis, an inner wire conductor in said tube, outer conductive means comprising one or more conductive strips along the outer surface of said tube, and means for connecting a source of high voltage between said inner wire and said outer conductive means.
In a transversely excited gas laser having a housing defining an elongated resonant gas cavity through the center of which an optical axis extends longitudinally and having a pair of opposed electrodes extending longitudinally and disposed on opposite sides of said optical axis for creating an electrical discharge in said gas in response to a high voltage applied therebetween, the improvement consisting of means for producing ultraviolet radiation for preionizing the gas in said laser, comprising:
- a hollow dielectric tube mounted in said housing substantially parallel to said optical axis and out of the main discharge volume between said electrodes,
- an inner wire conductor in said tube substantially the full length thereof, and
- outer conductive means on the surface of said tube substantially the full length thereof,
- said inner wire and outer conductive means being structured and arranged to radiate ultraviolet light into said main discharge volume when a high voltage pulse is applied across said inner wire and outer conductive means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.