RF excited waveguide gas laser

Patent · Tue Jan 08 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5865873

Laakman, K D; Laakmann, P

A waveguide gas laser of improved stability and efficiency resulting from novel improvements. Such improvements, including longitudinal RF excitation, unique ballasting techniques, a novel drive circuit design that is immediately responsive to defeat unstable hot spot problems, and a controlled power excitation function, result in an RF excited waveguide gas laser that substantially overcomes disadvantages of prior art devices. In one embodiment the invention consists of a longitudinally excited RF waveguide laser in which the spacing geometry of the electrodes is variable independently of the waveguide chamber geometry resulting in increased performance efficiency. In addition, hot spot problems are eliminated or substantially reduced by capacitive ballasting achieved through novel structural configurations including electrodes that are isolated from the waveguide chamber by means of a suitable dielectric spacing medium such as ceramic or aluminum oxide. In addition, a novel drive circuit of quarter-wave length and 75 Ohm characteristic impedance is utilized and the RF excitation power is applied over a controlled minimum time period of 1 millisecond. In another embodiment a unique homogeneous construction permits the use of a laser head configuration in which the waveguide is located within an RF shielding container, the interior of which, is at ambient pressure and which provides an enclosed channel for forced air cooling of the waveguide. In still another embodiment, the waveguide chamber or laser bore is formed by opposing aluminum electrodes sandwiched between two alumina blocks. The assembly is held in alignment and compression by an elastic tube that serves as a spring-like vacuum housing, and heat sink while positioning the waveguide and optical elements in proper alignment.

• Assignee: Walwel Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4493087
• OSTI ID: 5865873
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CERAMICS
CHALCOGENIDES
CONTROL
COOLING SYSTEMS
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
GAS LASERS
LASERS
MATERIALS
MODE CONTROL
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RF SYSTEMS
STABILITY
WAVEGUIDES