Patent ID: 6603794
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A laser comprising:first and second electrodes extending in a longitudinal direction and each having opposing first and second longitudinal ends, at least portions of the first and second electrodes being separated from each other in a separation direction transverse to the longitudinal direction by a separation distance associated with a Fresnel number of no more than 0.75; a gaseous lasing medium disposed between the first and second electrodes, the gaseous lasing medium configured to form laser energy when excited by excitation energy from an energy source transmitted through the first and second electrodes, the gaseous medium being at an operating pressure; first and second mirrors, the first mirror being positioned adjacent to the first longitudinal ends of the first and second electrodes and the second mirror being positioned adjacent to the second longitudinal ends of the first and second electrodes, the first and second mirrors having surfaces configured to form the laser energy into a laser beam that extends between the first and second mirrors; a plurality of electrical insulators comprising one or more solid materials; and first and second waveguide extensions, the first waveguide extension being positioned at the first longitudinal ends of the first and second electrodes with at least one of the electrical insulators therebetween and extending in the longitudinal direction toward the first mirror, and the second waveguide extension being positioned at the second longitudinal ends of the first and second electrodes with at least one of the electrical insulators therebetween and extending in the longitudinal direction toward the second mirror, the first and second waveguide extensions being electrically conducting, each of the first and second waveguide extensions having opposing surfaces separated from each other along the separation direction by substantially the separation distance, the electrical insulators being sized along the longitudinal direction according to Paschen's law to prevent electrical discharge from occurring between the first electrode and the first waveguide extension, between the first electrode and the second waveguide extension, between the second electrode and the first waveguide extension, between the second electrode and the second waveguide extension, between the opposing surfaces of the first waveguide extension, and between the opposing surfaces of the second waveguide extension at the operating pressure of the gaseous lasing medium.