Metal vapor laser including hot electrodes and integral wick
US5396513A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 29, 1993 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 29, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/031
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A metal vapor laser, specifically one utilizing copper vapor, is disclosed herein. This laser utilizes a plasma tube assembly including a thermally insulated plasma tube containing a specific metal, e.g., copper, and a buffer gas therein. The laser also utilizes means including hot electrodes located at opposite ends of the plasma tube for electrically exciting the metal vapor and heating its interior to a sufficiently high temperature to cause the metal contained therein to vaporize and for subjecting the vapor to an electrical discharge excitation in order to lase. The laser also utilizes external wicking arrangements, that is, wicking arrangements located outside the plasma tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.