Vapor discharge cell

Claim 2

A discharge cell comprising: a discharge chamber having an electrically insulating inner surface; a plurality of wicks, each wick having an evaporization region and a condensation region, said wicks being located within said chamber between spaces having elements to be protected from condensate of a vapor source material and a central portion of said discharge chamber; a vapor source material absorbed within said wicks; a source of electrical power connected between the evaporization regions of at least two of said wicks for initiating and maintaining an electrical discharge within said chamber; a heat exchanger means surrounding those portions of said discharge chamber containing condensation regions of said wicks for maintaining the temperature within said portions of said chambers at the condensation temperature of said vapor source material, such that vapor which is evaporated from each of said evaporation regions circulates to the corresponding condensation region and returns to the evaporation region by capillary action within the wick.

Claim 3

A discharge cell as in claim 1, wherein: said elements are a plurality of windows in said discharge chamber, each window being adjacent to one of said wicks, and positioned so that said wicks are between said windows and a central portion of said discharge chamber.

Claim 4

A discharge cell as in claim 1, wherein: said elements are a pair of mirrors, each mirror being adjacent to one of said wicks and positioned so that said wicks are between said mirrors and a central portion of said discharge chamber so that said mirrors form a resonant cavity within said discharge chamber.

Claim 5

A discharge cell suitable for use in a vapor laser comprising: a discharge chamber of electrically insulating material; a pair of electrodes located within said chamber, said electrodes being separated from each other by a discharge path; a pair of wicks, each wick having an evaporation region and a condensation region, said wicks being located between said electrodes within said chamber, said wicks being separated from each other; a vapor source material absorbed within said wicks; a source of electrical power connected between said electrodes for iniating and maintaining an electrical discharge within said chamber, said electrical discharge maintaining the temperature at said evaporation regions of said wicks at the evaporation temperature of said vapor source material; a pair of windows, each of said windows being adjacent to one of said electrodes, and positioned so that said wicks are between said windows; a temperature controlling means surrounding portions of said discharge chamber containing condensation regions of said wicks for maintaining the temperature within said portions of said chamber at the condensation temperature of said vapor source material, such that vapor which is evaporated from each of said evaporation regions circulates to the corresponding condensation region and returns to the evaporation region by capillary action within the wick thereby preventing the vapor from condensing on said windows.

Claim 6

A discharge cell suitable for use in a vapor laser comprising: a discharge chamber of electrically insulating material; a pair of electrodes located within said chamber, said electrodes being separated from each other by a discharge path; a pair of wicks, each wick having an evaporation region and a condensation region, said wicks being located between said electrodes within said chamber, said wicks being separated from each other; a vapor source material absorbed within said wicks; a source of electrical power connected between said electrodes for iniating and maintaining an electrical discharge within said chamber, said electrical discharge maintaining the temperature at said evaporation regions of said wicks at the evaporation temperature of said vapor source material; a pair of windows, each of said windows being adjacent to one of said electrodes, and positioned so that said wicks are between said windows; a temperature controlling means surrounding portions of said discharge chamber containing condensation regions of said wicks for maintaining the temperature within said portions of said chamber at the condensation temperature of said vapor source material, such that vapor which is evaporated from each of said evaporation regions circulates to the corresponding condensation region and returns to the evaporation region by capillary action within the wick thereby preventing the vapor from condensing on said windows.

Claim 7

A discharge cell as in claim 4 wherein said discharge chamber further comprises: a gas inlet orifice connected means for introducing neutral gas and controlling the pressure thereof, thereby controlling the vapor density within the discharge chamber.

Claim 8

A discharge cell as in claim 5 further comprising: second temperature controlling means surrounding a central portion of said discharge chamber, said central portion of said discharge chamber containing evaporation regions of said wicks, for maintaining the temperature within said central portion of said discharge chamber at the evaporation temperature of said vapor source material.

Claim 9

A discharge cell as in claim 4 further comprising: second temperature controlling means surrounding a central portion of said discharge chamber, said central portion of said discharge chamber containing evaporation regions of said wicks, for maintaining the temperature within said central portion of said discharge chamber at the evaporation temperature of said vapor source material.