Sintered dense laser block

A method of constructing a ring laser gyro from a ceramic metal powder and binder, wherein the ring laser gyro comprises a thermally and mechanically stable block having a plurality of interconnected gas containing tunnels forming an optical closed-loop path cavity therein and at least one anode mount on said block and a cathode mount on said block, and wherein the method of constructing the ring laser gyro comprises the steps of:

• (a) mixing a ceramic and metal powder and binder to yield a powder and binder combination;
• (b) forming the powder and binder combination into the rough shape of the block;
• (c) baking the block at a temperature hot enough to form a ceramic metal but not hot enough to bake off the metal mixed in the ceramic;
• (d) electro-discharge machining the plurality of interconnected gas containing tunnels, anode mounts and cathode mounts;
• and
• (e) baking the block in an oven at a temperature hot enough to drive off the metal mixed with the ceramic to create a block with a predetermined dielectric constant.

A method of constructing a cathode from a ceramic metal powder and binder, wherein the method of constructing the cathode comprises the steps of:

• (a) mixing a ceramic and metal powder and binder to yield a powder and binder combination;
• (b) forming the powder and binder combination into the rough shape of the cathode;
• (c) machining more details of the cathode;
• (d) baking the cathode at a temperature hot enough to form a ceramic metal but not hot enough to bake off the metal mixed in the ceramic;
• (e) electro-discharge machining the cathode;
• and
• (f) baking the cathode in an oven at a temperature hot enough to drive off the metal mixed with the ceramic to create a cathode with a predetermined dielectric constant.

A method of constructing a path length controller from a ceramic metal powder and binder, wherein the method of constructing the path length controller comprises the steps of:

• (a) mixing a ceramic and metal powder and binder to yield a powder and binder combination;
• (b) forming the powder and binder combination into the rough shape of the path length controller;
• (c) machining more details of the path length controller;
• (d) baking the path length controller at a temperature hot enough to form a ceramic metal but not hot enough to bake off the metal mixed in the ceramic;
• (e) electro-discharge machining the path length controller;
• and
• (f) baking the path length controller in an oven at a temperature hot enough to drive off the metal mixed with the ceramic to create a path length controller with a predetermined dielectric constant.

A method of constructing a laser gyro mirror assembly from a ceramic metal powder and binder, wherein the method of constructing the laser gyro mirror assemblies comprises the steps of:

• (a) mixing a ceramic and metal powder and binder to yield a powder and binder combination;
• (b) forming the powder and binder combination into the rough shape of the laser gyro mirror assembly;
• (c) baking the laser gyro mirror assembly at a temperature hot enough to form a ceramic metal but not hot enough to bake off the metal mixed in the ceramic;
• (d) electro-discharge machining laser gyro mirror assembly;
• and
• (e) baking the laser gyro mirror assembly in an oven at a temperature hot enough to drive off the metal mixed with the ceramic to create a laser gyro mirror assembly with a predetermined dielectric constant.