Dual channel waveguide gas laser

Claim 1

In a tunable high pressure gaseous molecular laser, the combination of: a laser cavity structure having a pair of elongated dielectric waveguide laser cavities of relatively small cross sectional area relative to their length, formed in said structure so as to have respective end terminations adjacent one another at the same opposite ends of said structure; first and second partially reflecting end mirrors respectively attached to said opposite ends forming common end mirrors for both said laser cavities; a laser medium comprising a gaseous mixture in both said laser cavities and including means for exciting said medium to generate respective laser beams; an external Stark cell positioned at one end of said cavity structure to receive simultaneously both said laser beams, said Stark cell being filled with gas and having a grating adapted to intercept said beams for permitting preselection of a predetermined laser line, said Stark cell being positioned between said one end and said grating and having two pairs of electrodes therein, said electrodes being positioned so that one electrode pair is adapted to effect the laser operation of one laser beam and the other electrode pair is adapted to effect laser operation of the other laser beam; and means coupled to said pairs of electrodes for applying electrical control voltages independently thereto for applying respective DC bias thereto and when desirable, a modulation voltage.