Mixed gas ion laser

A mixed gas ion laser comprising:

• a laser tube containing a mixture of at least two noble gases, said gases being chosen such that upon excitation, photons of at least two predetermined wavelengths are emitted;
• an optical cavity bounded by optics such that if the gases within the laser tube are sufficiently excited, lasing occurs within the optical cavity at said predetermined wavelengths;
• means for exciting the gases within the laser tube sufficiently that lasing occurs, said exciting means operating on direct current such that a constant output of laser light is produced;
• and
• means for selecting the output power of said laser such that light at said predetermined wavelengths is emitted from said laser within predetermine power ranges, said means for selecting output power comprising selecting the ratio of said noble gases to one another within said laser tube, selecting the pressure of said noble gases within said laser tube, and selecting the operating voltage of the laser.

An ion laser for emitting light of more than one color comprising:

• an ion laser tube containing a mixture of at least two gases;
• optical means disposed along at least one optical axis and defining an optical cavity, said optical cavity bounding at least a portion of said gas mixture;
• means for exciting said at least two gases comprising a direct current power supply, said exciting means resulting in a continuous output of laser light at at least two wavelengths;
• means for controlling the output power of each said wavelengths comprising means for selecting the gas pressure within the laser tube, means for selecting the mixture of the gases within the laser tube, and means for selecting the direct current provided for exciting said gases.

A method for producing a constant ion laser output containing more than one predetermined wavelength, each said wavelength having an output power within a predetermined range, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an ion laser comprising an ion laser tube, said ion laser tube containing a mixture of at least two gases;
• optical means disposed along at least one optical axis and defining an optical cavity, said optical cavity bounding at least a portion of said gas mixture;
• and means for simultaneously exciting said at least two gases contained within said optical cavity sufficiently to produce a continuous laser output at at least two selected wavelengths;
• and
• controlling the output power of each of said predetermined wavelengths, by selecting the output power of each of said predetermined frequencies by selecting one or more of the pressure within said laser tube, selecting the current voltage of said laser, and selecting the relative percentages of each of said gases contained within said laser tube.