Gas transport laser

Claim 2

A gas transport laser with longitudinal gas flow, comprising: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining a discharge chamber, said at least one laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed connected to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second direction, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second direction and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to said cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for exciting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube.

Claim 3

A gas transport laser as in claim 1, wherein said at least one laser tube comprises two parallel laser tubes, said means for drawing laser gas, including said radial blower, communicating with said two laser tubes at the respective center outlets of both of said two laser tubes, and comprising means for drawing laser gas in said two laser tubes into said radial blower through the respective center outlets of said two laser tubes and feeding the laser gas symmetrically back to said two laser tube via said cooling system and said gas supply system.

Claim 4

A gas transport laser as in claim 1, wherein said gas feed includes spiral guides at said ends of said at least one laser tube for guiding the laser gas into said at least one laser tube at said opposite inlet ends.

Claim 5

A gas transport laser, comprising a plurality of single laser systems disposed side-by-side on a same axis, each of said single laser systems including: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining therein a discharge chamber said at least one laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed coupled to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second direction, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second direction and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to said cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for exciting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube.

Claim 6

A gas transport laser, comprising a plurality of single laser systems disposed side-by-side on a same axis, each of said single laser systems including: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining therein a discharge chamber said at least one laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed coupled to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second direction, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second direction and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to said cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for exciting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube.

Claim 7

A gas transport laser as in claim 4, wherein said at least one laser tube comprises two parallel laser tubes, said means for drawing laser gas, including said radial blower, communicating with said two laser tubes at the center outlets of both of said two laser tubes, and comprising means for drawing laser gas in said two laser tubes into said radial blower through the centers of said two laser tubes and feeding the laser gas symmetrically back to said two laser tube, via said cooling system and said gas supply system.

Claim 8

A gas transport laser as in claim 4, wherein said at least one laser tube includes a discharge chamber, said means for exciting the laser gas includes external high frequency electrodes outside of said discharge chamber and adjacent to said opposite inlet ends.

Claim 9

A gas transport laser as in claim 4, wherein said gas feed includes spiral guides at said opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube for guiding the laser gas into said at least one laser tube at said opposite inlet ends.

Claim 10

A gas transport laser with longitudinal gas flow, comprising: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining a discharge chamber, said at least one laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in second directions generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed connected to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second directions, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second directions and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to the cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for simultaneously subjecting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube to a high frequency discharge and a high voltage discharge, the high frequency discharge extending only over a part of the at least one laser tube at said opposite inlet ends.

Claim 11

A gas transport laser with longitudinal gas flow, comprising: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining a discharge chamber, said at least one laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in second directions generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed connected to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second directions, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second directions and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to the cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for simultaneously subjecting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube to a high frequency discharge and a high voltage discharge, the high frequency discharge extending only over a part of the at least one laser tube at said opposite inlet ends.

Claim 12

A gas transport laser as in claim 8, wherein said means for exciting the laser gas comprises means for generating a total excitation power of 5 to 25 percent of power.

Claim 13

A gas transport laser as in claim 8, wherein said means for exciting the laser gas comprises means for generating voltages for the high voltage discharge such that no independent discharge takes place in the absence of excitation by the high frequency radiation.

Claim 14

A gas transport laser as in claim 8, wherein said at least one laser tube includes a discharge chamber, said means for exciting the laser gas includes external high frequency electrodes outside of said discharge chamber and adjacent to said opposite inlet ends.

Claim 15

A laser as in claim 11, wherein said means for exciting the laser gas further comprises high voltage electrodes in said chamber adjacent said opposite inlet ends said center outlet.

Claim 16

A gas transport laser, comprising a plurality of single laser systems disposed side-by-side on a same axis, each of said single laser systems including: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining therein a discharge chamber said at least one laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed coupled to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second direction, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second directions and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to the cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for simultaneously subjecting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube to a high frequency discharge and a high voltage discharge, the high frequency discharge extending only over a part of the at least one laser tube at said opposite inlet ends.

Claim 17

A gas transport laser, comprising a plurality of single laser systems disposed side-by-side on a same axis, each of said single laser systems including: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining therein a discharge chamber said at least one laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed coupled to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second direction, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second directions and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to the cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for simultaneously subjecting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube to a high frequency discharge and a high voltage discharge, the high frequency discharge extending only over a part of the at least one laser tube at said opposite inlet ends.

Claim 18

A gas transport laser, comprising a plurality of single laser systems disposed side-by-side on a same axis, each of said single laser systems including: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining therein a discharge chamber said at least one laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed coupled to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second direction, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second directions and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to the cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for exciting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube, including means for generating a total excitation power 5 to 25 percnet of which is high frequency ratiation power.

Claim 19

A gas transport laser, comprising a plurality of single laser systems disposed side-by-side on a same axis, each of said single laser systems including: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining therein a discharge chamber said at least one laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed coupled to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second direction, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second directions and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to the cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for exciting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube, including means for generating a total excitation power 5 to 25 percnet of which is high frequency ratiation power.

Claim 20

A gas transport laser, comprising a plurality of single laser systems disposed side-by-side on a same axis, each of said single laser systems including: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining therein a discharge chamber said at least on laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed coupled to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second direction, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second directions and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to the cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for exciting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube, including means for generating voltages for high voltage discharge in the laser gas such that no independent discharge takes place in the absence of excitation by the high frequency radiation.

Claim 21

A gas transport laser, comprising a plurality of single laser systems disposed side-by-side on a same axis, each of said single laser systems including: at least one laser tube with a resonator, defining therein a discharge chamber said at least on laser tube extending in a first direction and having two opposite inlet ends and a center outlet between said opposite inlet ends; a gas cooling system having a cooling system inlet and and a cooling system outlet and means for directing gas to be cooled therethrough from the cooling system inlet to the cooling system outlet, in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction; a gas feed coupled to said gas cooling system outlet, having means for directing gas cooled by said gas cooling system in directions essentially opposite said second direction, directly to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube; a radial blower having a first end connected to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube and a second end connected to said cooling system, having an axis extending in a third direction from said first end to said second end generally perpendicular to said first direction and said second directions and connected at said first end to said center outlet of said at least one laser tube, said radial blower including means for drawing laser gas in said at least one laser tube in said first direction from said opposite inlet ends into said radial blower through said center outlet, and through said radial blower along and radially with respect to said axis to said second end, so that the laser gas is fed to the cooling system to be drawn through said cooling system and said gas feed to said two opposite inlet ends of said at least one laser tube, the laser having dimensions measured in said first, second and third directions, the dimension in said first direction being less than the dimension in said second direction; and means for exciting the laser gas in said at least one laser tube, including means for generating voltages for high voltage discharge in the laser gas such that no independent discharge takes place in the absence of excitation by the high frequency radiation.

Claim 22

A laser as in claim 15, wherein said means for exciting the laser gas further comprises high voltage electrodes in said chamber adjacent said opposite inlet ends and said center outlet.