Abstract: Flash tube comprising a discharge tube made from a transparent material, an electrode located at either end of the discharge tube, one electrode serving to be raised to earth potential and the other to a high potential, an electrical connection connecting each electrode to one of the conductors of a supply line, wherein each electrode is connected to the discharge tube by gaskets and wherein each electrical connection is positioned radially with respect to the discharge tube.The flash tube is intended more particularly for use in the optical pumping of lasers in the visible or near ultraviolet range.

Abstract: The amplifier has a fluid active medium and contained in housing (1). The medium is excited by electric discharge in a resistance (4) constituted by a conductive layer deposited on an insulating support.Application to iodine lasers.

Abstract: The gas laser includes in particular a cathode (2) which is substantially cylindrical about an axis (10) parallel with the axis of the laser cavity, said cathode being provided with protrusions (11) formed by grooves in which insulated conductor wires (12) are disposed, said wires being brought to an electric potential which is positive with respect to that of the cathode, and means for rotating the cathode on its axis. Cathode rotation serves to cool the cathode during operation and can also be used to circulate the active gas. Application to welding and to machining.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser generator device emitting at a wavelength of 1.3 microns. This device includes a laser oscillator with a neodymium-doped glass, an iodine gas amplifier disposed at the output of the oscillator and means for causing the emission of the oscillator to take place at a wavelength close to 1.3 microns. Application to the production of plasmas.

Abstract: A light-amplifying medium is pumped by an auxiliary excitation source and has a number of energy levels, the laser transition being intended to correspond to the laser pulse delivered by the oscillator and to take place between the upper laser level and the lower laser level. Mirrors placed around the amplifying medium reflect the laser pulse from one mirror to the next so that the time interval between two successive pulse traversals within the amplifying medium is longer than the time of population transfer between on the one hand the upper reserve level and the upper laser level and on the other hand the lower laser level and the lower reserve level. The amplifying medium is thus regenerated by population exchange at the lower and upper levels between each pulse traversal through the amplifying medium.

Abstract: Power laser chain. Two amplifying elements are separated by a linear polarizer placed between two polarization transformers such as a quarter wave plate or a Fresnel parallelepiped, this preventing auto-oscillators in the amplifying chain, it being possible to repeat that sequence several times in the chain.