Coherent light generators – Particular pumping means – Electrical
Patent
1986-02-13
1988-11-29
Sikes, William L.
Coherent light generators
Particular pumping means
Electrical
372 87, H01S 3097
Patent
active
047886919
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an operating method in accord with the an arrangement in which a plate of dielectric material carries two electrodes on its one side, a gap therebetween, a third plane or electrode on the other side covering at least the base area of a discharge channel, a laser-active gas in the discharge channel and a switchable high-voltage generator connected to the first two mentioned electrodes. Such a technique for generating laser pulses is disclosed, in general, for example, in Appl. Phys. Lett. 10 (1967) 3.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The cited publication proceeds on the basis of a laser type having the following structure: a dielectric insulating plate, preferably a plastic film, is situated between two metal plates. The upper metal plate of this ribbon conductor is divided into two parts by a gap in which a laser-active gas (nitrogen or neon) is situated. Both parts lie at a positive potential of a few 10 kV, whereas the lower metal plate is grounded. By means of a fast, high-capacity switch, a short-circuit is produced between the one plate part and the lower plate during operation of the laser. A short, steeply rising discharge current wave arises, this running through the ribbon conductor to the gap and initiating a gas discharge there. This plasma then produces the required occupation inversion, whereby the gain is so high that a rather intense laser pulse arises even without optical feedback.
In order to further boost the output power of this super radiator, an attempt can be made to increase the gas pressure p and the discharge voltage U and to simultaneously shorten the current rise time .tau.. The latitude here, however, is relatively small, particularly because the plasma becomes inhomogeneous given an increasing pressure p and/or voltage U and converts into arc discharges having little effect. There are possibilities for making the occurrence of such plasma instabilities more difficult. Thus, it has been envisioned to meander the discharge electrodes along the gap (German OS No. 24 30 241), to provide the cathode surface with a plurality of sharp blades and/or to pre-ionize the gas (Rev. Sci. Instrum. 55 (1984)166). All of these measures certainly improve the quality of the discharge; however, they are relatively involved and also partly require additional space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is therefore based on the object of providing an excitation technique for a laser of the species initially cited which also enables a three-dimensionally uniform occupation inversion without special provisions and thereby requires no additional structural volume. This object is achieved in accord with the invention by the method comprising the features of exciting the laser-active gas with a high voltage pulse which is generated between the first two mentioned electrodes by connecting a high-voltage generator thereto which triggers a gas discharge in the discharge channel, the discharge channel including a surface discharge along a further dielectric plate connected to the aforementioned dielectric plate.
Given the proposed method, the laser activity is not effected, as was heretofore done, by a free discharge between metal electrodes, but is effected by a surface discharge along the dielectric plate.
Surface discharge, which is also frequently referred to as "creeping discharge" or "gliding discharge" in the literature, is a phenomenon that is well known per se. It has also already been employed in the field of gas lasers for a long time, however only as an ultraviolet light source for initiating a free discharge (Appl. Phys. Lett. 25 (1974) 654, J. Phys. E: Sci. Instrum. (1980) 632). Insofar as known, no one has yet arrived at the idea of using this type of discharge as the pump source itself, instead.
The physical events under which the surface discharge is triggered, forwarded and maintained have not yet been clarified in detail. The fact is, however, that the discharge occurs in a relatively thin layer which is u
REFERENCES:
patent: 3879681 (1975-04-01), Godard et al.
patent: 4093927 (1978-06-01), Levine
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patent: 4258335 (1981-03-01), Donon
patent: 4292600 (1981-09-01), Neracher
Baranov et al., "Use of a Discharge . . . Excimer Lasers, " Soviet J. of Quantum Electronics, vol. 8, No. 1, 1981, pp. 42-45.
Schwab et al., "Compact High-Power N.sub.2 Laser: . . .", IEEE J. of Quantum Electronics, vol. QE-12, No. 3, 1976, pp. 183-188.
Herziger Gerd
Schulke Helmut
Randolph B.
Sikes William L.
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