Gas laser structure for eliminating parasitic arcing

Claim 1

In a traveling wave transmission line system for excitation of a laser having: an active gaseous medium; a flat electric energizing line consisting of an insulating layer inserted between a first and second metallic layer, parallel to each other and connected respectively to the two terminals of a voltage source, the said first metallic layer having at least one slot separating it into two distinct parts; means for maintaining an active gaseous medium flowing in the said slot comprising metallic chocks (5,6) the edges of each of the said layers being in the form of a parabola whose axis forms an angle greater than zero with the line perpendicular to the slot; and means for generating a current wave in the said line, constituted by a circuit for setting up a substantially punctiform discharge between the said metallic layers at the level of the foci of the parabolas; the improvement wherein said flat electric energizing line is arranged through the said second metallic layer (3) on a massive plate (9) comprising on the one hand a cut (11) formed on its inside face substantially opposite the slot (4) and communicating with that latter through several channels (12) and on the other hand, two grooves (13) formed on its upper face and each having fitted in it at least on seal (14) made of a flexible material, the said grooves (13) being arranged substantially opposite the ends of the said first metallic layer (2) limiting the said slot (4), the gaseous medium in the volume formed by said slot, channels and cut being at a lower pressure than ambient atmospheric pressure for deforming said seal in said grooves for pressing the ends of said first metallic layer hard against the ends of said metallic chocks or improving the electrical contact between said chocks and said distinct parts.