Internal mirror laser
AssigneeCyonics, Ltd.
InventorsWilliam P. Kolb, Dale E. Crane
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal structure and cooling system for an argon-ion laser that is virtually free of thermal asymmetries includes a laser cathode having a housing constructed of a material of high thermal conductivity and relatively low thermal expansion in conjunction with a cooling structure configuration which readily and uniformly dissipates heat. In a specific embodiment the support structure is fabricated of copper material of at least a minimal thickness and the cooling fins are disposed in one and two stages of radial fins at specified regions along the support structure forming the discharge tube and enclosed by a tubular thermally conductive band.
Claims8
An internal mirror gas laser having a capillary tube and an anode housing coaxial with a central axis, and having mirrors sealably mounted to each end of said laser, said mirrors being in alignment about said central axis, said laser further comprising:
- a cathode housing forming a supporting wall coaxial with said central axis, said cathode housing being constructed primarily of a material with a figure of merit (defined as the quotient of thermal conductivity divided by thermal expansion) greater than 0.3.times.10.sup.6 watts per inch, one of said mirrors being sealably mounted to said cathode housing, said figure of merit being sufficient to ensure that said cathode housing provides a combination of thermal stability and uniform heat dissipation which is adequate to prevent misalignment of said mirrors under conditions of convective cooling;
- and
- means for convectively cooling said cathode housing, said anode housing and said capillary tube with minimal thermal assymmetry relative to said central axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.