Abstract: A gas laser has a tube for producing a laser beam and a plurality of heaters around the tube. A detector responds to a misalignment of the laser sending a response to control circuits for the heaters. In response to detector's output, the heater control circuits regulate the heaters so as to heat selective portions of the tube. The tube bends due to the heat resulting in a realignment of the laser.

Abstract: A gas laser tube has two regions, one characterized by a high electron temperature and the other by a low electron temperature. Included in the tube is means for establishing a space charge double sheath to separate the two regions. A mirror is located at each end of the region of low electron temperature.

Abstract: A method of aligning the mirrors and bore tube axis of a laser without actually operating the laser comprising the directing of two light beams through the bore tube collinear with the bore tube axis; the two light beams being directed through the tube from opposite ends of the tube. The mirrors are positioned so that one or both of the light beams are reflected from the mirrors along paths also collinear with the bore axis. A fine alignment of the mirrors is provided by detecting the light of a modulated laser beam passed through the bore and mirrors. The mirrors are accurately positioned when the detected modulated laser beam provides a peak output.

Abstract: A laser discharge tube has a separate light reflector means positioned at each end of the tube. One of the light reflector means has a plurality of facets for reflecting the light traveling through the laser tube. The novel system defines a folded optical cavity.

Abstract: To prevent deleterious effects from the sputtering of the cathode of a laser, the cathode surface portions exposed to the gaseous filling within the laser envelope are coated with a vaporizable metal. The coated cathode surface portions are held during laser operation at a temperature within a small range of values including the vaporization temperature of the metal coating the cathode surface. The atoms of the coating metal are sputtered off of the cathode surface by ion bombardment during operation but are immediately redeposited from the vapor of the coating metal adjacent to the cathode surface. Cataphoretic containment of the metal vapor within the central portion of the laser envelope is obtained by providing access to the cathode electrode from an anode electrode in each end of the envelope only through insulating tubular members having a length-to-inner diameter ratio greater than 2 and optimally around 5.

Abstract: A laser device employs two concentric enclosures with rapid pre-heat elements located between the two enclosures. The device contains a vented bore tube, two electrodes, and a metal vapor source within the innermost of the two enclosures.