Laser tube structure

Claim 1

A gas laser tube, comprising: (a) a plurality of axially-aligned, elongated, thin wall, cylindrical segments of electrically-insulating material successively disposed between electrodes at anode and cathode ends in hermetically-bonded relationship with one another and forming an outer wall of the laser tube, each said cylindrical segment defining within the wall thereof an axial longitudinal cylindrical cavity aligned with the said axial longitudinal cavity of each other said cylindrical segment, each said cylindrical segment further defining through the wall thereof a plurality of off-axis longitudinal circular holes therethrough in gas communicating relationship and aligned with the said off-axis longitudinal holes of each other said cylindrical segments to establish a corresponding plurality of elongated cylindrical gas return paths; (b) a thin metallic support member within each said cavity of each said segment, said support member having an outer peripheral portion located between the sides of said segment and bonded to the wall surface of said segment surrounding said cavity and integral with said peripheral portion a disc portion having an axial aperture therein and aligned with the said axial aperture of each other said cylindrical segments; (c) a refractory metal disc secured to one side of each said disc portion concentric with and over said axial aperture and having an axial opening therethrough defining an axial bore for the laser discharge and aligned with the said axial opening of each other said refractory metal disc, the cross sectional area of said axial openings being circular and greater than the cross sectional area of said holes; and (d) metallic securing means disposed between and bonded to the facing end surfaces of adjacent ones of said cylindrical segments in a manner precluding establishment of an electrical path between either electrode associated with said laser and any cooling medium flowing external of the tube while allowing gas communication between said holes at each interfacing pair of segments and in a further manner of hermetically sealing said gas in said holes from said discharge.