Coherent light generators – Particular pumping means – Electrical
Patent
1989-01-27
1990-03-20
Sikes, William L.
Coherent light generators
Particular pumping means
Electrical
372 55, 372 61, H01S 3097, H01S 322, H01S 303
Patent
active
049107496
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a laser oscillator device for producing a high-power laser beam for cutting workpieces of metal or the like, and more particularly to an improvement in the transverse mode of a laser oscillator device capable of high-frequency pumping.
BACKGROUND ART
High-frequency discharge pumped axial-flow CO.sub.2 lasers are in the process of being developed because of their advantages of high-power output and stable oscillation. One example of such a laser is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-243212 filed by the applicant.
A conventional axial-flow-type high-frequency discharge pumped laser oscillator device is illustrated in FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings. The illustrated laser oscillator device includes a discharge tube 1 comprising four tube segments connected in series. However, the discharge tube 1 may have a desired number of tube segments dependent on the output to be produced. A total reflection mirror 2 and an output coupling mirror 3 are accurately positioned at the ends of the discharge tube 1. Denoted at 4 s an outgoing laser beam. The segments of the discharge tube 1 have gas inlet and outlet ports connected to a single roots blower 8. Cooling units 6, 7 serve to cool a laser gas heated by the discharge and the compression in the roots blower 8. The laser gas flows in the discharge tube 1 and gas delivery tubes in the directions of the arrows. Electrodes 9a, 9b.about.12a, 12b are connected to a high-frequency power supply 5. The gas flows in the discharge tube 1 at the speed of about 100 m/second. An electric discharge is produced in the discharge tube 1 by a high-frequency voltage applied by the high-frequency power supply 5 to generate laser oscillation.
FIG. 4 shows the structure of each discharge tube segment. The electrodes 9a, 9b are jointly of a double helical construction. The electric discharge is produced between the electrodes as indicated by the hatched area in the cross section of each discharge tube segment shown in FIG. 5. Tee plane of the electric discharge is twisted as shown in FIG. 6. This is to obtain a circular mode by successively twisting the non-circular cross sections of the discharges in the respective tube segments and averaging the successively twisted discharge cross sections.
Actual laser oscillator devices, however, fail to obtain a completely circular mode as shown in FIG. 7(a). As illustrated in FIG. 7(b), an actual mode is caused to deviate from a completely circular mode because the discharge gain in each discharge tube segment has a distribution in the direction of the gas flow.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser oscillator device which will solve the aforesaid problems and which includes a high-frequency pumping axial-flow CO.sub.2 laser with its transverse mode improved into a circular mode.
According to a first invention, there is provided a laser oscillator device for producing an electric discharge between confronting double helical electrodes for laser pumping,
said electrodes having an integral number of helical turns.
According to a second invention, there is provided a laser oscillator device for producing an electric discharge between confronting double helical electrodes for laser pumping, comprising:
a laser resonator composed of n discharge tube segments connected in series; and
said discharge tube segments having electrodes which start being helically wound at points that are .pi.
spaced around the axis of the discharge tube segments.
According to a third invention, there is provided a laser oscillator device for producing an electric discharge between confronting double helical electrodes for laser pumping, said electrodes having an integral number of helical turns,
said laser oscillator device comprising:
a laser resonator composed of n discharge tube segments connected in series; and
said discharge tube segments having electrodes which start being helically wound at points that are .pi.
spaced around the axis of the dischar
REFERENCES:
patent: 3427567 (1969-02-01), Bridges et al.
patent: 4370598 (1983-01-01), Krahn
Epps Georgia Y.
Fanuc Ltd.
Sikes William L.
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