Abstract: Apparatus for establishing and maintaining a stable discharge across a stream of flowing gas, particularly useful for high-power lasers, comprises working electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the gas flow channel, and starting electrodes adjacent to the upstream working electrodes. Each working electrode includes a ballast impedance and is connected between a high-voltage source and a point of fixed reference potential. Each starting electrode includes a substantially larger ballast impedance and is connected to the point of fixed reference potential such that each starting electrode is effective to bring the point of fixed reference potential to the upstream working electrode to start the discharge, and to draw little current after the discharge has been started.

Abstract: An excitation circuit for a TE high-energy laser system, includes at least one high-speed, high-voltage switch, activatable for energizing a pulse-generating network to generate high-voltage pulses at a pair of laser electrodes; the pulse generating network having first and second strip-line capacitors associated with the high-voltage switch and the laser chamber and with appertaining equivalent inductances of the excitation circuit formed from self-inductance of the high-voltage switch, the laser chamber, leads of the system and the stripline capacitors has at least a third stripline capacitor included in the pulse-generating network in addition to the first and second stripline capacitors, a series connection of the high-voltage switch and one of the equivalent inductances being connected in parallel with the first stripline capacitor and with a series-parallel circuit formed of the second stripline capacitor and a parallel connection made up of the third stripline capacitor in parallel with an impedance as

Abstract: Laser of the TE type, including a gas-tight housing defining a laser chamber having a gas space, at least two laser electrodes disposed parallel to the optical axis of the laser within the housing, the electrodes being disposed mutually opposite and at a given distance from each other, excitation of the laser being provided by an arc-free capacitor discharge being as homogeneous as possible in the gas space between the electrodes, a pre-ionization device disposed within the housing, current leads and a current return disposed in the housing, each of the electrodes being connected to one of the current leads and current return, a device disposed in the laser chamber for conducting laser gas therethrough, a pulse-forming network having a capacitor contact surface and being connected to the current leads and current returns, the laser electrodes being in the form of at least two subelectrodes facing toward the pulse-forming network and subelectrodes facing away from the pulse-forming network, an electrode bridge

Abstract: The use of a Galilean telescope, situated in between the two lasing mediums that are located within the resonant cavity of a single longitudinal mode hybrid laser, increases the effective mode volume and, hence, the amount of lasing energy that can be derived from such a hybrid laser.

Abstract: A sealed-off CO.sub.2 TEA laser employs a corona discharge preionization technique and improved mechanical construction to improve vibration resistance and shelf life and to decrease sensitivity to the form of the electrical input.

Abstract: A laser having its lasing medium located within two or more portions of a single optical cavity. The lasing media within different portions of a single optical cavity are excited in sequence to obtain lasing actin over an extended temporal period.

Abstract: The specification describes an improvement in transversely excited lasers having a laser discharge channel in which a pair of opposed, elongated main discharge electrodes are longitudinally disposed in transversely spaced relation, the improvement comprising the provision of means associated with the electrodes defining a first electrical current flow path between the electrodes, providing at least one longitudinally extending discharge gap in the channel and having an electrical impedance which is less than the electrical impedance of lasing material in the chamber prior to excitation thereof whereby upon application of a high energy, high voltage pulse to one of the electrodes, electrical current flows initially through the associated means and produces a longitudinal, substantially uninterrupted, uniform glow discharge along the gap, the discharge reducing the electrical impedance of the lasing material to a value below that of the associated means whereupon the main glow discharge is effected.

Abstract: Apparatus for establishing and maintaining a stable electrical discharge across a stream of gas flowing through a gas flow channel, particularly useful in high-power lasers, comprises a plurality of modular elements each including a plurality of electrodes, a ballast impedance for each electrode, and a cooling element for each electrode in thermal communication with the electrode and its ballast impedance, all embedded within a block of insulating material. The ballast impedances for the electrodes at the downstream side of the gas flow channel have lower impedance values than those for the electrodes at the upstream side of the channel so as to compensate for the lower impedance of the gas flowing through the channel at the downstream side and to produce a substantially constant voltage across the various portions of the channels.

Abstract: Sheetform conductor type capacitor for energy storage in combination with a high-energy laser of the TE type, the laser having an optical axis, a laser chamber with at least two laser electrodes having a gas space therebetween, the laser electrodes being spaced apart opposite each other and extended parallel to the optical axis, excitation taking place by an arc-free capacitor discharge in the gas space being as homogeneous as possible, and pre-ionization devices associated with the laser electrodes, a pulse forming network, connected to the laser electrodes, coatings of the sheetform conductor type capacitor connected to the laser electrodes, electrodes defining a fast-high-voltage contact-break distance, the contact-break electrodes being connected to the laser electrodes, dielectric layers disposed between the coating of the sheetform conductor type capacitor in a direction substantially normal to a given stacking direction thereto parallel to the optical axis of the laser, the at least two laser electrode

Abstract: A laser system capable of producing multiple pulses comprising a single optical resonator having multiple discharge regions and multiple sets of electrodes and preionizers. The optical resonator is folded and the beam passes through all of the discharge regions. Since the multiple discharges occur within the same resonator, multiple identical pulses are produced and since the discharge regions are separated, the shock wave and medium inhomogeneity produced by a discharge in one discharge region will not disturb the others. The overall mirror separation and electrode spacing define a Fresnel number suited for single transverse mode operation.

Abstract: High-energy laser of the TE-type with excitation taking place by an arc-free capacitor discharge being as homogeneous as possible, including a housing having walls formed at least partially of high voltage-resistant insulating material defining a laser chamber having a gas space, at least two first and second electrodes being extended in the laser chamber and surrounded by regions of the housing walls, the electrodes being disposed opposite each other, spaced apart and parallel to the optical axis of the laser, the excitation taking place in the gas space between the electrodes, a preionization device disposed in the laser chamber, a current feed connected to the first electrode, a current return being connected to the second electrode and being in the form of metallic wall portions extended from the second electrode along the outside of the housing of the laser chamber at least to the vicinity of the region of the housing wall surrounding the first electrode, the insulating material of the housing in the gas

Abstract: A gas laser in which the gas is excited by laser discharge, said laser including two capacitors formed by two parallel metal plates (2, 3) between which two dielectric parts (4,5) are spaced apart to form a passage (6) which contains the laser gas. It further includes a transformer (13) whose secondary winding (12) is connected to the plates and whose primary winding (14) is connected in series with a capacitor (15), means (17) for charging and capacitor and a thyristor (16) for discharging the capacitor in the primary winding. Application to exciting gas lasers in which the gas contains a dye stuff.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing laser radiation which includes a pair of discharge electrodes for firing a gas discharge which extends transversely with respect to the axis of the laser resonator, wherein pre-ionization is produced by a corona discharge, a charging-and-discharging circuit and a gas circulating-and-cooling system. The first electrode is secured to the wall of the gas chamber which is made from non-conducting material, wherein the securing elements serve as current supply means. The second electrode is mounted to the same wall as the first electrode on a plurality of metal rods. Such metal rods simultaneously provide the mechanical support function and the electrical current supply, and, at least in the region of the gas chamber, are surrounded by an insulator tube having a high dielectric constant so that a corona discharge can be produced between the first electrode and the insulated metal rods.

Abstract: An improved electrode configuration and method for the deposition of electrical energy into an electric discharge laser having a gas path transversely disposed to an optical axis and the electric field is disclosed. The electrode configuration includes a cathode, having a row of preionization electrodes with each preionization electrode typically having the configuration of a pin and power electrodes positioned downstream of and in a parallel relationship to the row of preionization electrodes wherein the power electrodes typically have a configuration of a rod, and a planar anode disposed opposite the cathode in a parallel relationship thereto, wherein the cathode and the anode define the gas path therebetween.

Abstract: A waveguide gas laser of improved stability and efficiency resulting from novel improvements. Such improvements, including longitudinal RF excitation, unique ballasting techniques, a novel drive circuit design that is immediately responsive to defeat unstable hot spot problems, and a controlled power excitation function, result in an RF excited waveguide gas laser that substantially overcomes disadvantages of prior art devices.

Abstract: A laser comprises a prismatic or cylindrical metal box surrounding two correspondingly shaped stacked blocks of nonconductive material with a dielectric constant of 80 or more, the two blocks being separated by a first metal plate forming a first capacitor with one block and with a second metal plate resting on the opposite end face thereof while forming a second capacitor with the other block and with the base of the box. The cover of the box spacedly overlies the second metal plate and is insulatedly traversed by a conductive stud contacting the second plate whereby a direct-current source can be connected across the two stacked capacitors.

Abstract: A high pressure transverse excitation type laser oscillator comprises a plane anode and a plurality of rod type cathodes to form glow discharge. Each cathode is covered with a cylindrical insulator having heat resistance except for a small discharge surface whereby the shift of the glow discharge caused by varying the pressure or the discharge current can be prevented to thus obtain stable glow discharge.

Abstract: A transverse excitation atmospheric pressure laser employing a preionizing flash board formed on one of the sides of the laser tube. The side wall of the laser tube acts as an insulating support plate having a backing plate on the outside surface and a set of subsidiary electrodes on the inside surface. The subsidiary electrodes are short cylinders bonded to the inside surface of the support plate and having a flanged portion at the opposite end. The preionizing discharge takes place between adjacent subsidiary electrodes in the region between the flanged portions and is thus removed from the support plate. The material for the flanged portions has a high melting point and a low sputtering capability.A U-shaped enclosure provides a grounded housing for all the high voltage components and also provides a path for the discharge currents.

Abstract: A transversely electrically excited atmospheric pressure gas laser working in a pulsed mode (TEA laser) includes a cooled working gas conducted in circulation, a cooled cathode, an anode arranged at a distance from the cathode, and an open-worked auxiliary electrode arranged therebetween. The cooled cathode is designed as a metallic conducting, elongated cathode plate extending in the direction of the optical axis and the auxiliary electrode is arranged parallel to the cathode in the cathode drop region, in order to produce a glow skin covering the entire cathode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for reducing the gas consumption rate by controlling the gas composition in a repetitively pulsed high pressure and/or high energy density TE CO.sub.2 laser. Detrimental gas species formed in the discharge are removed by chemical reaction in the gas phase and the reaction products are removed by a trap in a recirculator loop. In particular, the primary detrimental species is oxygen, the reducing gas added to remove this is hydrogen or deuterium and the resulting oxides of hydrogen or deuterium are removed by a molecular sieve.