Gas laser oscillator

Abstract

The gas laser oscillator of the invention comprises a discharge tube, a pair of electrodes disposed at both ends thereof, a direct-current high voltage power source for applying a direct-current high voltage in pulse form to the pair of electrodes, an output control device for controlling the direct-current high voltage power source, a fully reflective mirror provided at one end of the outside of the pair of electrodes, a partially reflective mirror disposed at the other end of the outside of the pair of electrodes, and an absorber disposed outside of the partially reflective mirror. In thus constituted gas laser oscillator, the output control device controls to apply a same direct-current voltage as during processing between the pair of electrodes also on standby while the absorber is closed. The gas laser oscillator of the invention further comprises a beam splitter outside of the absorber, a switch to be actuated while the beam splitter is installed at a specified position, a focusing lens disposed on the optical axis of the laser beam reflected and separated by the beam splitter, a shielding plate disposed so as to open or close the passage of laser beam, a switch to be actuated while the shielding plate is open, a detector for detecting the laser beam, an amplifier for amplifying the output of the detector, and a medium passage disposed in contact with the detector for realizing heat exchange between the temperature-controlled medium and the detector, whereby it is controlled to issue the laser beam only while the beam splitter is installed at a specified position. The output of the laser beam is controlled so that the detector input may not exceed the maximum allowable input of the detector while the shielding plate is open. Moreover, the beam splitter, focusing lens, and detector are arranged so that the optical axis may be horizontal to the laser beam passing therethrough.

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