Hybrid cooled ion laser

A hybridly cooled high power gas laser, comprising:

• a laser tube including an anode, a cathode, a bore that operates at a high temperature, a gas reservoir that operates at a lower temperature than the high temperature of the bore, and optical elements positioned in first and second ends of the tube to define a resonator cavity that produces an output of laser energy, said tube containing an active medium;
• a liquid coolant system coupled to the bore;
• and
• an air cooling system directing forced air over the gas reservoir.

A high energy laser, comprising:

• a laser tube, the laser tube comprising:
• a gas reservoir having an exterior surface and being comprised of a metallic alloy,
• a laser bore that operates at a high temperature, comprised of ceramic and coupled to the gas reservoir which operates at a lower temperature than the high temperature of the bore,
• an anode assembly coupled to a first end of the bore,
• a cathode mounted in a second end of the tube, and,
• first and second optical elements mounted in the first and second ends of the tube defining a resonator that produces a laser output;
• a power supply coupled to the anode and cathode;
• a coolant flow tube surrounding the laser bore, sealed at a first end and a second ends of the tube, and coupled to e source of recirculating coolant;
• metallic cooling fins coupled to the exterior surface of the gas reservoir;
• and
• a source of forced air directed over the cooling fins and a portion of the anode assembly.

A high energy laser, comprising:

• a tube, having a bore that operates at a high temperature, and a gas reservoir that operates at a lower temperature than the high temperature of the bore;
• an anode mounted in one end of the bore;
• a cathode mounted in the gas reservoir;
• a recirculating water cooling system coupled to the bore;
• a device for supplying circulating air over the reservoir region;
• a first optical element mounted on an optical seat in the interior of the bore;
• and
• a second optical element mounted on an optical seat in the interior of the gas reservoir.