Electrically self-oscillating, rf-excited gas laser

Claim 2

A radio frequency-excited gas laser, comprising: a plasma tube for producing laser energy, said plasma tube including a discharge section, an optical resonator, and means for outcoupling laser energy from the laser, said discharge section having electrodes made from electrically conductive material, said electrodes having electrical capacities; a laser gas medium within said discharge section; an amplifier having an input and an output, the output being connected to the plasma tube and the input being connected to the plasma tube, for amplifying energy from the plasma tube, and thereby forming a feedback path; and an inductive element connected to said electrodes, said inductive element forming a resonant circuit with said electrical capacity, said resonant circuit being resonant at a predetermined operating radio frequency.

Claim 3

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 1 wherein said electrical feedback path includes a transformer.

Claim 4

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 1 wherein said feedback path includes a transformer.

Claim 5

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 1 wherein said discharge section is a series-connected resonant circuit that has a minimum impedance at said radio frequency.

Claim 6

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 1 wherein said discharge section includes a two-port network having separate input and output connections.

Claim 7

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 5 wherein said two-port network is an impedance-matching network for matching said impedance of said input and output connections.

Claim 8

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 5 wherein said two-port network further includes a transformer made from a transmission line, the transformer being connected between the input and output connections of the two-port network.

Claim 9

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 1 wherein said oscillator is powered by a non-isolating AC to DC power converter.

Claim 10

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 1 wherein said discharge section is connected to an electrical ground and said amplifier is connected capacitively to said plasma tube.

Claim 11

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 1 wherein said laser gas medium includes CO 2 .

Claim 12

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 1 wherein said laser gas medium includes CO.

Claim 13

A radio frequency-excited gas laser, comprising: an elongated plasma tube for producing laser energy, said plasma tube including a discharge section, an optical resonator, and means for outcoupling laser energy from the laser, said discharge section having a pair of electrodes each extending along a portion of the length of the plasma tube and being made from electrically conductive material, said electrodes having electrical capacities; a laser gas medium within said discharge section; an amplifier having an input and an output, the output being connected to the plasma tube and the input being connected to the plasma tube, for amplifying energy from the plasma tube, and thereby forming a feedback path; and a plurality of inductive shunt means distributed along the length of said elongated plasma tube and connected to said pair of electrodes to form a resonant circuit with the electrical capacities thereof, said resonant circuit being resonant at a predetermined operating radio frequency.

Claim 14

A radio frequency-excited gas laser, comprising: an elongated plasma tube for producing laser energy, said plasma tube including a discharge section, an optical resonator, and means for outcoupling laser energy from the laser, said discharge section having a pair of electrodes each extending along a portion of the length of the plasma tube and being made from electrically conductive material, said electrodes having electrical capacities; a laser gas medium within said discharge section; an amplifier having an input and an output, the output being connected to the plasma tube and the input being connected to the plasma tube, for amplifying energy from the plasma tube, and thereby forming a feedback path; and a plurality of inductive shunt means distributed along the length of said elongated plasma tube and connected to said pair of electrodes to form a resonant circuit with the electrical capacities thereof, said resonant circuit being resonant at a predetermined operating radio frequency.

Claim 15

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 12 wherein said laser gas medium includes CO 2 .

Claim 16

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 13 wherein said laser gas medium includes CO.

Claim 17

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 12 wherein said feedback path includes a transformer.

Claim 18

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 12 wherein said oscillator is powered by a non-isolating AC to DC power converter.

Claim 19

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 16 wherein said discharge section is connected to an electrical ground and said amplifier is connected capacitively to said plasma tube.

Claim 20

A radio frequency-excited gas laser, comprising: an elongated plasma tube for producing laser energy, said plasma tube including a discharge section, an optical resonator, for laser energy outcoupling means, said discharge section having a pair of electrodes each extending along a portion of the length of the plasma tube and made from electrically conductive material, said pair of electrodes having electrical capacities; a laser gas medium within said discharge section; an amplifier having an input and an output, the output being connected to the plasma tube and the input being connected to the plasma tube, for amplifying energy from the plasma tube, and thereby forming a feedback path; and a plurality of inductive shunt means mounted on the length of said elongated plasma tube and connected to said pair of electrodes to form a resonant circuit with the electrical capacities thereof, said resonant circuit being resonant at a predetermined operating radio frequency.

Claim 21

A radio frequency-excited gas laser, comprising: an elongated plasma tube for producing laser energy, said plasma tube including a discharge section, an optical resonator, for laser energy outcoupling means, said discharge section having a pair of electrodes each extending along a portion of the length of the plasma tube and made from electrically conductive material, said pair of electrodes having electrical capacities; a laser gas medium within said discharge section; an amplifier having an input and an output, the output being connected to the plasma tube and the input being connected to the plasma tube, for amplifying energy from the plasma tube, and thereby forming a feedback path; and a plurality of inductive shunt means mounted on the length of said elongated plasma tube and connected to said pair of electrodes to form a resonant circuit with the electrical capacities thereof, said resonant circuit being resonant at a predetermined operating radio frequency.

Claim 22

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 18 wherein said feedback path includes a transformer.

Claim 23

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 18 wherein said laser gas medium includes CO 2 .

Claim 24

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 18 wherein said laser gas medium includes CO.

Claim 25

The radio frequency-excited gas lasr of claim 18 wherein said discharge section is a two-port network having separate input and output connections, each connection having an impedance.

Claim 26

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 22 wherein said two-port network is an impedance-matching network for matching said impedance of said input and output connections.

Claim 27

The radio frequency-excited gas laser of claim 22 wherein said two-port network further includes a transformer made from a transmission line, the transformer being connected between the input and output connections of the two-port network.