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U.S. Department of Energy
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Coupling circuit for use with a transversely excited gas laser

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6317847
The present invention is an improved coupling circuit for use in combination with a gas laser including a laser bore and electrode structure which includes an elongated chamber of cross-sectional dimensions suitable for confining a laser gas discharge with the elongated chamber being formed from a dielectric material and an opposing pair of parallel electrode plates, which are formed from an electrically conductive material, for transversely exciting a laser gas. An rf generator applies a voltage of alternating polarity between the pair of parallel electrode plates at a frequency ranging from 10 MHz to about 3 GHz to establish a laser gas discharge in the laser gas. A pair of optical reflectors for reflecting and guiding light energy from the laser gas discharge so that the light energy is optically independent of the internal walls of the elongated chamber as the light energy travels longitudinally the length thereof. The improved coupling circuit includes a first impedance-matching device for matching the steady state reactive impedance of the elongated chamber to the impedance of the rf generator and a second impedance-matching device coupling one of the pair electrode plate to the other electrode plate in order to cancel the pre-ignition reactive impedance of the elongated chamber. The first impedance-matching device couples the pair of electrode plates and the second impedance-matching device to the rf generator.
Assignee:
EDB-85-005496
Patent Number(s):
US 4455658
OSTI ID:
6317847
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English