Multitube coaxial closed cycle gas laser system

Claim 1

A closed cycle system for the production of laser radiation with a gaseous working medium which is circulated in a loop through the system comprising: a convection laser having a gas inlet and a gas discharge and including: an unstable resonator section formed between two curved reflecting surfaces which have a common optical axis about which is positioned a plurality of electric discharge tubes; means for providing an electric discharge along the optical axis to produce laser radiation in the resonator; a flat reflecting surface positioned on the axis to couple laser radiation from the resonator as an output beam having an annular cross section; and means for cooling the laser reflecting surfaces; an exhaust heat exchanger which provides cooling to the working medium; first flow means joining the laser gas discharge to the exhaust heat exchanger; a main circulator for maintaining continuous circulation of the working medium through the laser loop; second flow means joining the exhaust heat exchanger to the main circulator, and second flow means including means for insulating the exhaust heat exchanger from vibrations in the main circulator; a circulator heat exchanger which provides cooling to the working medium; third flow means joining the circulator heat exchanger to the circulator; fourth flow means joining the circulator heat exchanger to the laser inlet, the fourth flow means including means for insulating the laser inlet from vibrations in the circulator heat exchanger; a makeup feed gas supply joined to the one of flow means to provide a continuous fresh supply of working medium; a gas removal system joined to the third flow means to maintain steady state pressure conditions in the system loop and to remove contaminants from the working medium during operation of the system; and a standoff device fixedly interconnecting the second and fourth flow means for avoiding the imposition of side loadings on the laser as a result of pressure differentials inside and outside of said flow means and for avoiding loading at least part of the flow means with twisting moments.