摘要:
A helium-nitrogen laser is described in which energy in the visible range is emitted as a result of charge transfer reaction between helium ions and nitrogen molecules. The helium and nitrogen are present in a gas mixture at several atmospheres pressure, with a nitrogen partial pressure on the order of less than one percent. Prior to applying a discharge pulse to the gas mixture at the high pressure by means of a pair of main discharge electrodes, the gas mixture is preionized to prevent arcing when the discharge pulse is applied. The preionization is achieved by the application of a high voltage across a pair of secondary electrodes which are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the spacing direction of the main discharge electrodes and the longitudinal axis of the space in which the gas mixture is contained. Feedback, by means of a pair of appropriately spaced mirrors, is provided, to produce coherent energy pulses at a selected wavelength.
摘要:
A saturable inductor switch for compressing the width and sharpening the rise time of high voltage pulses from a relatively slow rise time, high voltage generator to an electric discharge gas laser (EDGL). The switch also provides a capability for efficient energy transfer from a high impedance primary source to an intermediate low impedance laser discharge network. More specifically, a saturable inductor switch is positioned with respect to a capacitive storage device, such as a coaxial cable, so that when a charge build-up in the storage device reaches a predetermined level, saturation of the switch inductor releases or switches energy stored in the capacitive storage device to the EDGL. Also disclosed are cascaded saturable inductor switches for providing output pulses having rise times of less than ten nanoseconds as required for efficient excitation of EDGL's, the pulse rise time being determined by the thickness of a high permeability material forming the saturable inductor switch. In addition, a technique for magnetically biasing the saturable inductor switch is disclosed so that only pulses from a pulse generator having one polarity are passed and pulses having the other polarity are blocked, thereby improving the lifetime of electrical components that are sensitive to voltage reversals.
摘要:
A laser head comprising a tube having a wall with the configuration of a hollow cylinder. A first ring flange extends radially generally outwardly of the tube wall at one end and is connected to the tube by a single continuous weld. A second plate flange is disposed at the same end and extends generally axially of the first flange. The first flange is coupled to the second flange and sandwiches a metal gasket therebetween to form a pressure seal. An electrode assembly is mounted to the second plate flange and at least one high voltage discharge feed extends through the wall of the tube to energize the electrode assembly. The tube is formed of a homogeneous metal that is free of any surface plating and is less reactive with Halogen gas than pure aluminum. In an associated method, the interior surface of the tube is polished to reduce the surface area and inhibit the entrapment of water vapor.
摘要:
Apparatus for optically controlling the output energy of a pulsed laser source comprising a laser producing a plurality of laser pulses in a laser beam. An optical attenuator is disposed in the laser beam to attenuate the energy in the laser beam to provide an attenuated laser beam, and a pick-off is provided for sensing the energy in the attenuated laser beam. A controller is coupled to the pick-off for controlling the optical attenuator to vary the energy in the attenuated laser beam to thereby vary the output fluence from the apparatus.
摘要:
A multiple pulse electric discharge gas laser system is described in which a plurality of pulsed electric discharge gas lasers are supported in a common housing. Each laser is supplied with excitation pulses from a separate power supply. A controller, which may be a microprocessor, is connected to each power supply for controlling the application of excitation pulses to each laser so that the lasers can be fired simultaneously or in any desired sequence. The output light beams from the individual lasers may be combined or utilized independently, depending upon the desired application. The individual lasers may include multiple pairs of discharge electrodes with a separate power supply connected across each electrode pair so that multiple light output beams can be generated from a single laser tube and combined or utilized separately.