Independent initiation technique of glow discharge production in high-pressure gas laser cavities

Patent · Tue Apr 18 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6847028

Farish, O; Hundstad, R L

A trigger circuit which operates independently of the main discharge circuit can be used to initiate glow discharge useful for gas laser excitation. By utilizing independent trigger means, such as auxiliary dielectric electrodes, the main discharge can be controlled by modulating only a small part of the total energy input to the laser cavity. The main discharge gap of the laser is prestressed to a voltage below the spark breakdown voltage threshold of the electrode assembly under static conditions but above the glow discharge voltage of the electrode assembly. When the trigger means is pulsed to supply free electrons to the discharge gap the glow discharge is initiated between the electrodes independent of the need for modulating the main power to the gap.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 4085386
• OSTI ID: 6847028
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
DESIGN
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRODES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
GAS LASERS
GLOW DISCHARGES
LASER CAVITIES
LASERS
PULSE CIRCUITS
SPARK GAPS
TRIGGER CIRCUITS