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.
An improved apparatus for exciting a laser material comprising: a gas energizable by the conduction of pulsed electrical current for producing laser excitation energy; a source of electrical power; a pulse-forming network connected to said source of electrical power; switch means connected to said pulse-forming network for periodically conducting pulses of electrical current flow from said network; and a transmission line defining a first conductive path from said switch means to said gas and a second conductive return path from said gas to said switch means, said conductive paths having insulation therebetween of a minimum strength to withstand the potential applied to cause said gas to break down, for optimizing the impedance of said transmission line relative to the dynamic impedance of said gas during pulsed conduction therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
An improved apparatus for exciting a laser material comprising: a gas energizable by the conduction of pulsed electrical current for producing laser excitation energy; a source of electrical power; a pulse-forming network connected to said source of electrical power; switch means connected to said pulse-forming network for periodically conducting pulses of electrical current flow from said network; and a transmission line defining a first conductive path from said switch means to said gas and a second conductive return path from said gas to said switch means, said conductive paths having insulation therebetween of a minimum strength to withstand the potential applied to cause said gas to break down, for optimizing the impedance of said transmission line relative to the dynamic impedance of said gas during pulsed conduction therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An improved apparatus for exciting a laser material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pulse-forming network comprises a transmission line input circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An improved apparatus for exciting a laser material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch means is a spark gap switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An improved apparatus for excitiNg a laser material as claimed in claim 3 wherein said spark gap switch is controllably actuated by an independent trigger means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improved apparatus for exciting a laser material as claimed in claim 3 wherein said spark gap switch is operative in a contained medium of a selected gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An improved apparatus for exciting a laser material as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pulse-forming network is in the form of coaxial cable and said switch means is a coaxial spark gap switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An improved apparatus for exciting a laser material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pulse-forming network is in the form of parallel conductive plates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An improved apparatus for exciting a laser material as claimed in claim 5 wherein said electrically conductive path includes a balun line portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An improved apparatus for exciting a laser material as claimed in claim 8 wherein said gas is contained in a laser cell connected to a dual ground plane balun line portion of a conductive path for said pulses.