Laser oscillator with a wavelength stabilizing device

Claim 1

In a laser tube, providing a laser beam with a constantly uniform wavelength, of the type having a capillary tube therein, an anode and cathode operable to impress an operating voltage on the capillary tube, a pair of mirror members each positioned in the laser tube adjacent a respective end of the capillary tube in alignment with the axis thereof, and means mounting at least one of the mirror members for movement parallel to the axis relative to the other mirror: the improvement comprising, in combination, an armature of magnetic material secured to said one mirror member for movement therewith; said mounting means including a non-magnetic member closing the adjacent end of said laser tube and elastic means supporting said armature from said non-magnetic member within said laser tube, for movement parallel to said axis in opposite axial directions and normally biasing said armature to a preset intermediate position; an electromagnetic means, external to said laser tube, axially aligned with and facing said armature but separated from said armature by said non-magnetic member, and including an energizing winding; and means operable to supply current to said winding to adjust and control the axial distance between said mirror members by adjusting the magnitude and direction of the current supplied to said winding.