US3842366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Double discharge, large volume excitation gas laser
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
•
Filing: 1973-03-12
•
Granted: 1974-10-15
•
Expires: 1993-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A transversely excited atmospheric pressure gas laser of double discharge type is described in which a starter gas of different composition than the laser gas is employed in the first discharge space between the cathode and an intermediate mesh electrode. High voltage pulses are applied between such cathode and an anode on the opposite side of such mesh electrode to cause a first discharge between the cathode and mesh electrode through the starter gas, and a second discharge between the mesh electrode and the anode through the laser gas. The starter gas is a rare gas such as helium, while the laser gas may be a mixture of gases such as carbon dioxide, helium and nitrogen. Both the starter gas and laser gas may be at atmospheric pressure or higher and flow through the discharge spaces for cooling. The mesh electrode may extend over substantially the entire surface of the anode and is isolated from any source of electrical potential, at least during the first discharge. Such mesh electrode functions as an auxiliary cathode for the second discharge to excite a large volume of laser gas and produce a high power laser light pulse. This double discharge laser excitation technique reduces the required potential of the high voltage pulse and also provides a more uniform second discharge to excite a larger volume of laser gas than previous double discharge lasers.
Inventors
- 👤 R Gordon
- 👤 E Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:44
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0971; H01S3/09713
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
Gas laser apparatus in which the improvement comprises: an anode; a cathode including at least one electron emitting element; an intermediate electrode supported in spaced relationship between said anode and said cathode; gas means for providing a starter gas in a first discharge space between said cathode and said intermediate electrode, and for providing a laseR gas in a second discharge space between said intermediate electrode and said anode, said laser gas being of a different composition than said starter gas; and discharge means for producing a first electrical discharge between said cathode and said intermediate electrode through said starter gas, and for producing a second electrical discharge between said intermediate electrode and said anode through said laser gas to cause the laser apparatus to produce a laser light beam output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
Gas laser apparatus in which the improvement comprises: an anode; a cathode including at least one electron emitting element; an intermediate electrode supported in spaced relationship between said anode and said cathode; gas means for providing a starter gas in a first discharge space between said cathode and said intermediate electrode, and for providing a laseR gas in a second discharge space between said intermediate electrode and said anode, said laser gas being of a different composition than said starter gas; and discharge means for producing a first electrical discharge between said cathode and said intermediate electrode through said starter gas, and for producing a second electrical discharge between said intermediate electrode and said anode through said laser gas to cause the laser apparatus to produce a laser light beam output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the intermediate electrode is a porous mesh electrode of larger area than the electron emitting surface of said cathode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the starter gas is of a gas composition which emits ultraviolet light when it is ionized by the first discharge so that said ultraviolet light is transmitted through the mesh electrode into the laser gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the discharge means includes a high voltage pulser means for applying high voltage pulses between said cathode and said anode, and said intermediate mesh electrode is isolated from any source of electrical potential at least at the time said first discharge is initiated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 4 which also includes a second high voltage pulser means for applying high voltage pulses between said mesh electrode and said anode after said first discharge is initiated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 1 which includes means for causing the starter gas and the laser gas, respectively, to flow through the first discharge space and the second discharge space on opposite sides of the intermediate electrode, and to provide said gasses with pressures at least as great as atmospheric pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 2 which includes means for causing the starter gas and the laser gas to flow in the same general direction past the opposite sides of the mesh electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the laser gas is a mixture of gases at least one of which is not present in the starter gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which the starter gas is helium and the laser gas is a mixture of carbon dioxide, helium and nitrogen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the cathode includes a plurality of spaced emitting elements which are uniformly spaced from the mesh electrode, and the anode is curved so that its outer edges are spaced a greater distance from the mesh electrode than its central portion is spaced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 10 which also includes a trigger means comprising a plurality of trigger electrodes positioned adjacent different ones of said cathode emitting elements, connected to a more positive potential than said cathode, and insulated therefrom by solid dielectric material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
Gas laser apparatus in which the improvement comprises: an anode; a cathode including at least one electron emitting element; a mesh electrode of larger area than the electron emitting surface of said cathode and said anode means for supporting said mesh electrode between said cathode and said anode with said mesh electrode extending along substantially the entire length of said anode; gas means for providing laser gas in the space between said mesh electrode and said anode; high voltage pulser means having its output connected between said cathode and said anode for producing a first electrical discharge between said cathode and said mesh electrode and for producing a second electrical discharge between said mesh electrode and said anode to excite a large volume of said laser gas and cause the laser apparatus to produce a laser light beam output; and said mesh electrode being isolated from any source of electrical potential at least at the time said first discharge is initiated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
Gas laser apparatus in which the improvement comprises: an anode; a cathode including at least one electron emitting element; a mesh electrode of larger area than the electron emitting surface of said cathode and said anode means for supporting said mesh electrode between said cathode and said anode with said mesh electrode extending along substantially the entire length of said anode; gas means for providing laser gas in the space between said mesh electrode and said anode; high voltage pulser means having its output connected between said cathode and said anode for producing a first electrical discharge between said cathode and said mesh electrode and for producing a second electrical discharge between said mesh electrode and said anode to excite a large volume of said laser gas and cause the laser apparatus to produce a laser light beam output; and said mesh electrode being isolated from any source of electrical potential at least at the time said first discharge is initiated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with cLaim 12 in which the gas means provides a starter gas in the space between the cathode and the mesh electrode, said starter gas being of a different composition than said laser gas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 13 which includes means for causing the starter gas and the laser gas, respectively, to flow through the first discharge space and the second discharge space on opposite sides of the mesh electrode, and to provide said gases with pressures at least as high as one atmospheric pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 13 which includes means for causing the starter gas and the laser gas to flow in the same general direction past opposite sides of mesh electrodes, and to cause said laser gas to flow transverse to the axis of said laser light beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 13 in which the starter gas is a gas composition which emits ultraviolet light when ionized by said first discharge so that said ultraviolet light is transmitted through the mesh electrode into the laser gas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 12 which also includes trigger means comprising at least one trigger electrode positioned adjacent the emitting element of said cathode and connected to a more positive voltage potential than said cathode but insulated from the emitting element by a solid insulator member to prevent an electrical discharge between the cathode emitting element and said trigger electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 17 in which the cathode has a plurality of spaced emitting elements and the trigger means includes a plurality of trigger electrodes positioned adjacent different ones of said emitting elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 12 which also includes a second high voltage pulser means having its output connected to the mesh electrode through a normally open isolation switch which is closed to apply high voltage pulses between said mesh electrode and said anode after the initiation of said first discharge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
Laser apparatus in accordance with claim 12 in which the cathode is a mesh cathode and an electrical insulator is provided between said mesh cathode and a trigger electrode of more positive potential on the opposite side of said cathode from said mesh electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3666982A
Cited
US3772610A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |