A gas laser includes a pair of subsidiary electrodes to form a sharpening gap. These subsidiary electrodes are located within the envelope of the laser so as to be exposed to the same gas or mixture of gases that flow between the main electrodes and support the main lasing action. The efficiency of the laser and the lifetime of the electrodes of the sharpening gap are thereby improved, together with other advantages.
The specification describes an improvement in transversely excited lasers having a laser discharge channel in which a pair of opposed, elongated main discharge electrodes are longitudinally disposed in transversely spaced relation, the improvement comprising the provision of means associated with the electrodes defining a first electrical current flow path between the electrodes, providing at least one longitudinally extending discharge gap in the channel and having an electrical impedance which is less than the electrical impedance of lasing material in the chamber prior to excitation thereof whereby upon application of a high energy, high voltage pulse to one of the electrodes, electrical current flows initially through the associated means and produces a longitudinal, substantially uninterrupted, uniform glow discharge along the gap, the discharge reducing the electrical impedance of the lasing material to a value below that of the associated means whereupon the main glow discharge is effected.
This invention relates to a method and apparatus by which two series-connected glow discharge devices may be connected to a main power supply without interposing an output switch. The two series-connected glow discharge devices may be used within a single laser or in two different lasers which are pumped simultaneously. Both glow discharges may be initiated by a balanced main power supply, a single ended main power supply or a prepulse power supply in conjunction with a main power supply.
A gas laser device comprises a discharge tube made of a dielectric material; a laser medium gas which is circulated at a high speed within the discharge tube in the axial direction of the discharge tube; an optical resonator composed of a total refelection mirror and a partial reflection mirror, both being disposed in mutual confrontation at both ends of the discharge tube; a plurality of electrodes oppositely provided on the outer periphery of the discharge tube; and a power source for applying an a.c. voltage to the oppositely provided electrodes to generate silent discharge.
A laser beam generated between a total reflector and an output coupler is turned back by plural reflectors which are mounted in a discharge region along two main electrodes at 45.degree., and the discharge region is divided into plural divided discharge regions, thus, a diameter of an output laser beam is reduced to a diameter of the divided discharge regions.
A novel gas laser apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a hermetic container with a gas laser medium sealed therein, a plurality of main discharge electrodes arranged in the hermetic container for causing the main discharge in the gas laser medium thereby to generate a laser beam, and a device for subjecting the discharge space between the main discharge electrodes to preionization over a wide range thereof before the main discharge by use of a reflected laser beam or an ultraviolet ray lamp.
