Method of fabricating a gas laser

Claim 1

THE METOD OF FABRICATING GAS LASER, SAID GAS LASER COMPRISING AN EXTENDED HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL OXIDE COATED COLD METALLIC CATHODE, AN ANODE AND AN ENCLOSURE FOR SAID ANODE AND CATHODE CONTAINING FREE OXYGEN, COMPRISING PREPARING THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CATHODE TO PRESENT AN UNCONTAMINATED SURFACE, AND THEREAFTER RESPECTIVELY, FOR ABOUT FOUR CYCLES OF: OUTPUMPING SAID ENCLOSURE AND FILLING WITH O2 TO A PRESSURE OF ABOUT 2 TORR, EFFECTING AN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE BETWEEN SAID ANODE AND CATHODE WITH ABOUT 5-10 MILLIAMPERES PER SQUARE CENTIMETER OVER SAID INNER SURFACE, WHILE MAINTAINING SAID PRESSURE AT ABOUT 2-3 TORR, TERMINATING DISCHARGE AND REDUCING GAS PRESSURE IN SAID ENCLOSURE WELL BELOW 2 TORR, REFILLING SAID ENCLOSURE WITH AN OXYGEN CONTAINING GAS MIXTURE TO ABOUT 2 TORR, RESTARTING SAID DISCHARGE AND AGAIN OUTPUMPING SAID DISCHARGE, THEREAFTER AND UPON ATTAINMENT OF STABLE PRESSURE EVACUATING SAID ENVELOPE AT LEAST 10**6 TORR AND FUGHER OUTGASSING SAID ANODE AND CATHODE, AND THEREAFTER REPETITIVELY FILLING THE ENCLOSURE WITH A LASER GAS MIXTURE AND RESTARTING AND CONTINUING THE DISCHARGE UNTIL THE LASER GAS COLOR TURNS TRUE TO TYPE, THEREAFTER PUMPING DOWN TO 10**-6 TORR AND REFILLING WITH SAID LASER GAS, AND RESTARTING THE DISCHARGR, UNTIL THE DISCHARGE BECOMES AND REMAINS THE TRUE COLOR REPRESENTING PURITY OF THE LASER GAS, THEREAFTER AGAIN INITIATING A DISCHARGE OF NORMALLY RUNNING CURRENT RESULTING IN A CURRENT DENSITY OF NOT MORE THAN 0.6 MA/CM**2 OF CATHODE AREA FOR UP TO 1 TO 2 DAYS, AND THEREAFTER REFILLING WITH THE LASER GAS AND SEALING.

Claim 6

The method of fabricating a gas laser cathode, said gas laser comprising an extended hollow cylindrical metallic cold cathode, an anode and an enclosure for said cathode and anode, comprising the steps of removing the inner metallic surface of said cathode so as to present a chemically uncontaminated fresh metallic surface, repetitively forming an electrical discharge between said cathode and anode while maintaining oxygen containing gas at a pressure of about 2-3 Torr in said enclosure with gas outpumping between repetitions until stable gas pressure is achieved, and thereafter outgassing said enclosure to about 10 6 Torr and filling said enclosure with a laser gas to operating pressure.

Claim 7

The method of fabricating a gas laser cathode, said gas laser comprising an extended hollow cylindrical metallic cold cathode, an anode and an enclosure for said cathode and anode, comprising the steps of removing the inner metallic surface of said cathode so as to present a chemically uncontaminated fresh metallic surface, repetitively forming an electrical discharge between said cathode and anode while maintaining oxygen containing gas at a pressure of about 2-3 Torr in said enclosure with gas outpumping between repetitions until stable gas pressure is achieved, and thereafter outgassing said enclosure to about 10 6 Torr and filling said enclosure with a laser gas to operating pressure.

Claim 9

The method of fabricating a gas laser tube having a cold metallic cathode and an anode, comprising so removing metal from a surface of said cathode as to expose a fresh chemically uncontaminated surface of said cathode and forming an oxide on said fresh uncontaminated surface by electrical discharge between said anode and cathode in an oxygen containing atmosphere.

Claim 10

The method of fabricating a gas laser tube having a cold metallic cathode and an anode, comprising so removing metal from a surface of said cathode as to expose a fresh chemically uncontaminated surface of said cathode and forming an oxide on said fresh uncontaminated surface by electrical discharge between said anode and cathode in an oxygen containing atmosphere.

Claim 12

The method of fabricating a cathode of a gas laser tube, said cathode being metallic and operating cold, comprising the steps of so removing metal from a surface of said cathode as to expose a fresh uncontaminated surface of said cathode, and forming an oxide layer on the so exposed surface.

Claim 13

The method of fabricating a cathode of a gas laser tube, said cathode being metallic and operating cold, comprising the steps of so removing metal from a surface of said cathode as to expose a fresh uncontaminated surface of said cathode, and forming an oxide layer on the so exposed surface.

Claim 14

The method of fabricating a gas laser tube comprising an extended hollow cylindrical cold cathode, comprising the steps of so machining the inner surface of said cathode as to leave an exposed chemically uncontaminated surface, repetitively forming a gas discharge between said cathode and anode while maintaining oxygen containing gas at a pressure of about 2-3 Torr in said enclosure by gas outpumping between repetitions until stable gas pressure is achieved, and thereafter outgassing said enclosure to about 10 6 Torr and filling said enclosure with said laser gas.

Claim 15

The method of fabricating a gas laser tube comprising an extended hollow cylindrical cold cathode, comprising the steps of so machining the inner surface of said cathode as to leave an exposed chemically uncontaminated surface, repetitively forming a gas discharge between said cathode and anode while maintaining oxygen containing gas at a pressure of about 2-3 Torr in said enclosure by gas outpumping between repetitions until stable gas pressure is achieved, and thereafter outgassing said enclosure to about 10 6 Torr and filling said enclosure with said laser gas.

Claim 18

A method of making a cold cathode laser tube, comprising effecting an electrical discharge between said anode and cathodic metal while said anode and cathode are immersed in a gas containing oxygen, and at intervals removing gas from said tube and replacing with fresh gas containing oxygen.

Claim 19

A method of making a cold cathode laser tube, comprising effecting an electrical discharge between said anode and cathodic metal while said anode and cathode are immersed in a gas containing oxygen, and at intervals removing gas from said tube and replacing with fresh gas containing oxygen.

Claim 20

A method of making a cold cathode laser tube, comprising placing a cold cathode metal and an anode in an enclosure, said cathode having a chemically clean surface and said enclosure containing oxygen, and effecting an electrical discharge between said anode and cathode, and at intervals outgassing said enclosure and supplying fresh oxygen, until an oxide layer is formed on said metal.

Claim 21

A method of making a cold cathode laser tube, comprising placing a cold cathode metal and an anode in an enclosure, said cathode having a chemically clean surface and said enclosure containing oxygen, and effecting an electrical discharge between said anode and cathode, and at intervals outgassing said enclosure and supplying fresh oxygen, until an oxide layer is formed on said metal.

Claim 22

A method of forming a cold cathode suitable for use in a gas laser tube having an anode, comprising effecting an electrical discharge between said anode and cathode in an atmosphere containing oxygen until an oxide coating is formed on said cold cathode.

Claim 23

A method of forming a cold cathode suitable for use in a gas laser tube having an anode, comprising effecting an electrical discharge between said anode and cathode in an atmosphere containing oxygen until an oxide coating is formed on said cold cathode.