US 4,794,612 AGranted

Metal ion laser

AssigneeKoito Seisakusho Co., Ltd.

InventorAkira Fuke

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A metal ion laser includes a glass tube, a hollow cathode installed in the glass tube, a plurality of anodes arranged on the glass tube, a pair of Brewster windows fixed to both end of the glass tube, at least one of reservoir recessed in the glass tube for storing a metal material to be evaporated, and at least one of communicating passage formed in the hollow cathode corresponding to each the reservoir so as to communicate between each reservoir and the inside of the hollow cathode. A cooling element is arranged on the glass tube, between the Brewster window and each end of the hollow cathode. A cooling system is arranged in a casing for the laser. The sputtered product is mainly deposited on the inner wall of the reservoir nearby the communicating passage, and the rest of the sputtered product and the vapored materials are deposited at the cooling element arranged between each end of the hollow cathode and each Brewster window. Thus the Brewster windows and the anodes can be free from being spoiled by the sputtered or evapored materials.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A hollow cathode metal ion laser of negative glow discharge type comprising:

a laser tube made of glass material;
a hollow cathode installed in the laser tube;
a plurality of anodes arranged in the laser tube, said anodes being provide on a first side of the laser tube, each of said anodes being spaced from each other axially along said laser tube;
a pair of Brewster windows sealingly fixed to axial opposite ends of the laser tube;
a plurality of reservoirs provided outside of the hollow cathode and in the laser tube for storing a metal material therein and for evaporating the same, each of said reservoirs being provided on a second side of the laser tube substantially opposite from said anodes, said reservoirs being formed by projecting portions of said laser tube outward, said reservoirs being located between the positions corresponding to the opposite ends of the hollow cathode in the laser tube;
a plurality of slits formed in said hollow cathode corresponding to each of said reservoirs for communicating the inner side of the hollow cathode with said reservoirs;
and
heaters for heating said anodes and the bottom sides of said reservoirs respectively.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/166,822Filed 4 Mar 1988 · continuation
Priority: JP 60-8536223 Apr 1985
Granted: 27 Dec 1988
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

H01S 3/031
Of gas laser discharge tubes: metal vapour lasers, e.g. metal vapour generation
H01S 3/0346
Optical devices within, or forming part of, the tube, e.g. windows, mirrors: protection of windows or mirrors against deleterious effects
H01S
Devices using the process of light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation