Patent US4961201A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4961201A
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Waveguide configuration
Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt eV
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Filing: 1989-08-24
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Granted: 1990-10-02
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Expires: 2009-08-24
Abstract
Abstract In order to improve a waveguide configuration for high-frequency-excited, diffusion-cooled gas laser system comprising a waveguide carrier with a cavity closed like a ring in an azimuthal direction in relation to a longitudinal axis and extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis, and a waveguide for guidance of a laser beam along an optical axis, the waveguide being arranged in the cavity and formed by waveguide wall surfaces disposed at a constant spacing from one another, the width of the waveguide wall surfaces transversely to the lengthwise extent of the waveguide in the direction of the optical axis being a multiple of their spacing from one another, and the waveguide wall surfaces enclosing a discharge space between them, such that with a waveguide geometry which is as expedient as possible, i.e., not too large a width, it is still easy to handle and can be operated in a single mode, it is proposed that the waveguide be arranged in the cavity such that its lengthwise extent includes an angle of≦30 degrees with the azimuthal direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Opower
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/0315; H01S3/08; H01S3/08081; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0975
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
Waveguide configuration for a high-frequency-excited, diffusion-cooled gas laser system comprising a waveguide carrier with a cavity closed like a ring in an azimuthal direction in relation to a longitudinal axis and extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis, and a waveguide for guidance of a laser beam along an optical axis, said waveguide being arranged in said cavity and formed by waveguide wall surfaces disposed at a constant spacing from one another, the width of said waveguide wall surfaces transversely to the lengthwise extent of said waveguide in the direction of said optical axis being a multiple of their spacing from one another, and said waveguide wall surfaces enclosing a discharge space between them, characterized in that said waveguide (40, 83, 88, 114, 168) is arranged in said cavity such that its lengthwise extent (58, 90, 116, 170) includes an angle of ≦30 degrees with said azimuthal direction (22, 86, 118, 166).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
Waveguide configuration for a high-frequency-excited, diffusion-cooled gas laser system comprising a waveguide carrier with a cavity closed like a ring in an azimuthal direction in relation to a longitudinal axis and extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis, and a waveguide for guidance of a laser beam along an optical axis, said waveguide being arranged in said cavity and formed by waveguide wall surfaces disposed at a constant spacing from one another, the width of said waveguide wall surfaces transversely to the lengthwise extent of said waveguide in the direction of said optical axis being a multiple of their spacing from one another, and said waveguide wall surfaces enclosing a discharge space between them, characterized in that said waveguide (40, 83, 88, 114, 168) is arranged in said cavity such that its lengthwise extent (58, 90, 116, 170) includes an angle of ≦30 degrees with said azimuthal direction (22, 86, 118, 166).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said lengthwise extent (58, 90, 116, 170) includes an angle of ≦15 degrees with said azimuthal direction (22, 86, 118, 166).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 2, characterized in that said lengthwise extent (58, 90, 116, 170) includes an angle of ≦5 degrees with said azimuthal direction (22, 86, 118, 166).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 3, characterized in that said lengthwise extent (58, 170) of said waveguide (40, 83, 168) is substantially parallel to said azimuthal direction (22, 86, 166).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said waveguide (88, 114) winds in helical configuration in the direction of said longitudinal axis (84, 115).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 5, characterized in that successive windings (91, 119) of said waveguide (88, 114) lie with their facing side edges (120, 122) close together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said cavity (24, 80, 82, 112, 162) is a cylinder-like cavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 7, characterized in that the ring space (24, 80, 82, 112) is a circular-cylindrical ring space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 7, characterized in that the ring space (162) is a rectangular-cylindrical ring space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said cavity (24; 80, 82; 112; 162) forms with its wall surfaces said waveguide wall surfaces (16, 18; 69, 71; 109, 111; 158, 160).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said waveguide (40, 83, 88, 114, 168) has a width which at most is equal to the extent of said wall surfaces (16, 18; 68, 70; 76, 78; 108, 110; 158, 160) of said cavity (24, 80, 82, 112, 162) in the direction of said longitudinal axis (26, 84, 115, 164).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said waveguide (88, 114) has a width which at most is equal to an integral fraction of the extent of said wall surfaces (76, 78, 108, 110) of said cavity (82, 112) in the direction of said longitudinal axis (84, 115).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said waveguide (40, 83, 88, 114, 168) has electrodes extending over its entire lengthwise extent (58, 90, 116, 170) and width.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said waveguide carrier (10, 60, 100, 150) comprises an outer part (12, 62, 102, 152) with a recess (14, 64, 104, 154) and an inner part (16, 66, 74, 106, 156) insertable into this recess and connectable with said outer part, and in that said cavity (24, 80, 82, 112, 162) is formed by a space between said inner part and said respective outer part.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the course of said waveguide (88, 114) in said cavity (82, 112) is defined by an optical element (87; 117).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 15, characterized in that said optical element comprises a mirror (87) which predetermines a direction of propagation (116) of a beam path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 15, characterized in that said optical element is an element (117) which impedes propagation of laser radiation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the discharge space of said waveguide (40, 83, 88, 114, 168) is permeated by a resonator beam path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 18, characterized in that said resonator beam path is that of an unstable resonator with a transverse extent (49, 140, 206) running approximately parallel to said waveguide wall surfaces (16, 18; 69, 71; 109, 111; 158, 160) from a resonator axis (48, 136, 194) to an exiting laser beam (56; 138; 208, 210).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 19, characterized in that said resonator is a confocal resonator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 18, characterized in that said resonator axis (48, 136, 194) extends parallel to the lengthwise extent (58, 90, 116, 170) of said waveguide (40, 83, 88, 114, 168).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 19, characterized in that said resonator beam path extends in the transverse direction (49, 140, 206) at most over the width (B) of said waveguide (40, 83, 114, 168).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 18, characterized in that said resonator beam path comprises outer beams extending parallel to one another.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 19, characterized in that said resonator is designed as a resonator symmetrical with respect to said resonator axis (48, 136, 194).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 19, characterized in that said resonator is constructed as half of a resonator symmetrical with respect to said resonator axis (48, 136, 194).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the discharge space of said waveguide (88, 168) is permeated by an amplifier beam path of a laser amplifier (81, 178).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 26, characterized in that said amplifier beam path has a transverse extent (206) running transversely to an incoming laser beam (208, 210).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 26, characterized in that a laser beam (56) coupled into said waveguide passes through said waveguide (88) in the direction of its lengthwise extent (90).
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
Waveguide configuration as defined in claim 26, characterized in that said laser amplifier (81, 178) comprises an optical axis extending parallel to the lengthwise extent (90, 170) of said waveguide (88, 168).
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