Method of operating closed-cycle carbon dioxide lasers in which carbon monoxide is used to prevent degradation of performance

Claim 2

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the amount of carbon monoxide is not greater than about sixteen percent by volume.

Claim 3

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said carbon dioxide is in the amount of about eight percent by volume, said nitrogen is in the amount of about thirty-four percent by volume, said helium is in the amount of about fifty percent by volume, and said carbon monoxide is in the amount of about eight percent by volume.

Claim 4

In the improved method of operating flowing gas laser devices operating in the closed cycle mode wherein output power is maintained substantially constant over extended periods of time, the steps comprising: a. causing a lasable gaseous medium comprising a mixture of active gases to be recirculated through a working region where a population inversion is produced, said active gases comprising carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium; b. generating in said medium in said working region a substantially spatially uniform density of free electrons having an average energy insufficient to produce a population inversion in said medium; c. providing a sustainer electric discharge in said working region for providing an electron temperature effective to increase the average energy of said free electrons to a level sufficient to produce a population inversion in said medium; d. providing as a constituent of said medium carbon monoxide in an amount in excess of that generated by electrochemical reaction is said discharge and sufficient to maintain current flow in said discharge and output power substantially constant over said extended periods of time; and e. stimulating emission of radiation from said medium.

Claim 5

The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said carbon monoxide is provided in an amount not greater than about sixteen percent by volume.

Claim 6

The method as defined in claim 6 wherein a portion of said gaseous lasing medium is continuously replaced.

Claim 7

In the improved method of operating flowing gas laser devices operating in the closed cycle mode wherein output power is maintained substantially constant over extended periods of time, the steps comprising: a. causing a lasable gaseous lasing medium comprising a mixture of active gases to be recirculated through a working region disposed in a cavity having imperforate walls for confining said medium, said active gases comprising carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium; b. generating ionizing radiation externally of said cavity; c. introducing said ionizing radiation into said cavity through one of said walls to produce a substantially spatially uniform density of free electrons in said medium having an average energy insufficient to produce a population inversion in said medium; d. providing a sustainer electric discharge in said working region for providing an electron temperature effective to increase the average energy of said free electrons to a level sufficient to produce a population inversion of said medium; e. providing as a constituent of said medium carbon monoXide in an amount in excess of that generated by electrochemical reaction in said discharge and sufficient to maintain current flow in said discharge and output power substantially constant over said extended periods of time; and f. stimulating emission of radiation from said medium.

Claim 8

The method as defined in claim 8 wherein a portion of said gaseous lasing medium is continuously replaced.