摘要:
A carbon-dioxide (CO2) gas-discharge slab laser includes elongated discharge-electrodes in a sealed enclosure. Radio Frequency (RF) power is supplied to the electrodes via an impedance matching network and a co-axial electrical low inductance transmission line feed-through sealed to the enclosure. The feed-trough includes two spring contacts which are configured to be spring compression push-fit in grooves in edges of the discharge-electrodes. A central conductor of the feed-through is fluid cooled. A capacitor of the impedance matching network is assembled on the central conductor as an integral part of the feed-trough.
摘要:
The laser tube housing of a CO2 slab laser is provided with a cooling system in which coolant fluid tubes are inserted into hollowed out portions formed in the longitudinal sidewalls of the laser tube housing; mounting the coolant fluid tubes in this way provides for enhanced cooling and increased stiffness of the laser tube housing. Also, a cooling system is provided for the laser's electrode assembly that relies on a manifold system that is mounted on a longitudinal sidewall of the laser tube housing to route coolant fluid through the sidewall to the electrode assembly; sidewall flow of the coolant fluid enables the end flanges of the laser tube housing to be remove without disturbing either the electrodes or the optical resonator of the laser. Also, a bracket assembly is provided for attaching the laser's electrode assembly to a longitudinal sidewall of the laser tube housing; the bracket assembly includes two brackets each of which is attached to a respective end of the electrode assembly and each of which is also attached to a longitudinal sidewall of the laser tube housing in proximity to a respective longitudinal end of the laser tube housing.
摘要:
A photo-acoustic leak detection system for detecting a gas leaking from a component (30), includes at least one laser beam (20), incident on the component (30) and having a wavelength which is absorbed by the gas, the gas emitting a photo-acoustic signal (36) when the gas absorbs light from the beam (20), the beam (20) being pulsed at a pulse frequency, the pulse frequency being related to a detection frequency of the photo-acoustic signal and being a frequency at which the magnitude of background acoustic noise at the detection frequency is at a predetermined low level, at least one acoustic sensor (40), which receives the photo-acoustic signal (36) and provides a sensor signal on the line (42) indicative thereof to a filter (44) and a synchronous detector (18), which provide a filtered signal on a line (50) to a signal processor (52). The processor (52) provides an output signal on a line (54) indicative of the leak in the component. Setting such pulse frequency to a low level acoustic noise frequency allows the signal-to-noise response to be greatly increased.
摘要:
A remote active multipoint fiber laser sensor includes a plurality of fiber lasers 12,14,16, each having a pair of Bragg gratings 18,20, embedded in a fiber 10 and excited by a common pump light 30. The lasers 12,14,16 lase at different longitudinal modes (lasing wavelengths) and emit light 32,34,36, at their respective wavelengths .lambda.1,.lambda.2,.lambda.n. The lasing wavelength of each laser shifts due to perturbations, such as strain or temperature, applied thereto. The output light 32,34,36 is fed to a spectrum analyzer 50 where the wavelength shift is analyzed. A signal processor 54 reads the wavelength shift and provides a signal on lines 56 indicative of the perturbation at each of the lasers/sensors 12-16. Alternatively, a single laser may be used as a single sensor. Alternatively, birefringent fiber may be used as the fiber cavities 21 and the two polarizations are beat together to form a lower difference or "beat" frequency, thereby allowing lower frequency detection devices to be used.
摘要:
A mirror assembly for a carbon dioxide (CO2) slab laser resonator includes a center section having a rectangular cross-section and a pair of thermal balancing bars. A concave reflecting surface formed on a front edge of a center section. The side-bars are attached to either side of the center section and extend forward of the reflective surface. Dimensions of the center section and side bars are selected to position the thermal neutral plane of the assembly close to the reflective surface. This minimizes changes the radius of curvature of the reflective surface due to heating by circulating radiation in the resonator.
摘要:
A laser mirror assembly is disclosed with improved pointing stability. An elongated mirror includes a concave reflecting portion. A pair of elongated planar portions extend parallel to the concave reflecting portion on either side thereof. The planar portions are stepped down from the reflecting portion. The mirror is formed from copper. A pair of stainless steel strips are connected to planar portions. The bimetallic effect between the copper mirror and the stainless steel strips operates to counteract the warping of the mirror due to differential heating effects which arise during operation. In an alternate embodiment, a pair of aluminum strips are mounted on the rear surface of the mirror.
摘要:
A RF shielded, series inductor, high power impedance matching network interconnector is provided for connecting an RF power supply to electrodes contained in the shielded, hermetically sealed laser tube housing of a slab laser system. The impedance matching interconnector comprises a short length of co-axial conductor and an impedance matching network that includes two L shaped networks. The inner conductor of the co-axial conductor is connected between the power supply output and the impedance matching network. The outer conductor of the co-axial conductor is grounded. The co-axial conductor has an impedance characteristic to match the power supply output impedance. The first L-shaped network includes a first inductor having a first end connected to the inner conductor of the co-axial conductor and a first capacitor connected to the second end of the first inductor and a second plate connected to ground. The second L shaped network includes a second inductor having a first end connected to the common connection between the second end of the first inductor and the first plate of the first capacitor and a second capacitor having a first plate connected to the second end of the second inductor and a second plate connected to ground. The common connection between the second end of the second inductor and the first plate of the second capacitor is connected through the shielded, hermetically sealed laser tube housing to the electrodes of the slab laser system. The two L-shaped networks may be implemented in a “single capacitor” configuration for lower power applications or in a “multi-capacitor” configuration for higher power applications.
摘要:
An RF-discharge waveguide laser having two parallel waveguides is improved by the addition of coupling channels which permit the plasma in said waveguides to communicate.
摘要:
The quality of pulses output from laser systems such as super-pulsed CO2 slab lasers can be improved using half-wavelength electro-optic modulators (EOMs), in combination with thin film polarizers (TFPs). A voltage applied across a CdTe crystal of the EOM rotates the polarization of a pulse passing through the EOM by 90°. The polarization determines whether the pulse passes through, or is redirected by, the TFP. The voltage applied to the crystal can be pulsed to prevent a drop in charge, which could allow radiation to leak to the application. A totem pole switch used to apply voltage to the EOM can receive a pulsed voltage for improved performance. Directing by the EOM allows pulses to be clipped at the front/back end(s), split into portions, and/or directed to separate scanners. Directing pulses or pulse portions to different scanners can increase the output of systems such as hole drilling systems.
摘要:
Through the use of a relatively inexpensive third mirror on a novel folded hybrid unstable resonator configuration, the optimum output coupling for a given laser design can be explored quickly and easily with a minimum of intracavity mirror alignment. No changes in either the radii of curvature of the three cavity optics or their spacing are required for this exploration. In addition to providing techniques for purposefully and systematically introducing mirror edge effects or avoiding edges effects altogether, the invention provides that output beams of different width can be advantageously explored in a relatively simple and straightforward manner. The invention provides that higher geometric magnification cavity designs may be made compatible with low diffraction output coupling in a configuration that uses only three totally reflecting optics.