Patent ID: 8416828
Filing Date: 2013-04-09
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A recirculating catalyst module for a gas discharge laser providing a main gas flow stream through a laser housing past an electrical discharge region to produce a laser light, the catalyst module comprising: a chamber positioned outside the laser housing and containing catalyst elements; a fan to draw a portion of a laser gas from the main gas flow stream into the chamber and expel it back into the main gas flow stream; a heater positioned to heat gas within the chamber; a thermal insulator positioned between the chamber and ambient air and partially between the chamber and the laser housing; and at least one filter attached to at least one end of the catalyst module to contain particulates emanating from the catalyst elements wherein small diameter catalyst elements are contained in thin rectangular packets having a width, a length, a thickness, with large frontal area with respect to a flow of the portion of laser gas to increase total catalyst surface area exposed to the laser gas, wherein the small diameter is than the largest of the width, length, and thickness, and wherein the large frontal area is a largest face of the rectangular packet defined by the width, length, and thickness.