Pulsed laser apparatus

Abstract

Abstract This improved pulsed gas laser apparatus is preferably employed together with a gas laser cell adapted to be excited to a lasing level by the conduction of pulsed electrical current through the gas contained therein. A number of such gas laser cells in different configurations have been devised and are known in the art. The present invention, however, is not limited by the particular configuration of gas laser cell and may be employed advantageously with a variety of different forms and configurations of gas discharge devices. A source of electrical power, a pulse-forming network, and switch means are connected in circuit to transmit pulsed electrical current flow from the source of electrical power to the gas laser material. A transmission line of the coaxial, flat parallel plate, or other suitable type may be employed as a pulse-forming network; the pulse-forming network, together with switch means, constitutes a pulse generator assembly for developing pulses of electric current which flow through a gas laser material causing it to produce optimum laser power output relative to the power available from the electrical source. As will appear more fully from the complete disclosure, the apparatus employed within the teaching of the present invention may include a pulse generator having a pulse-forming network which presents an instantaneous dynamic electrical impedance substantially equal to the electrical impedance of the gas medium at the instant of maximum laser power output during pulsed conduction of electrical current therethrough.

Inventors

• 👤 Thomas A Detemple
• 👤 Daniel E Altman
• 👤 Myer Geller

Bibliographic Details