Patent ID: 6442185
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A method for producing a beam of laser energy with a gas laser having a housing for containing a laser gas and a laser resonator mirrors placed at the opposite ends of the housing, said method comprising the steps of:providing first and second elongated metal electrodes each having a plurality of dielectrically coated surface areas and a plurality of metal surface areas, said electrodes having a discharge surfaces disposed so as to define a discharge gap therebetween, said metal surface areas being located within said discharge surfaces, said metal surface areas being disposed so as to define a spacing between them; providing said first and second electrodes being disposed so as to define a spacing between them; providing the spacing between the metal surface areas being substantially greater than the spacing between the discharge electrodes; applying RF voltage between the electrodes to establish a transverse RF gas discharge in said discharge gap between the discharge surfaces; applying DC voltage between the electrodes, thereby producing a longitudinal DC gas discharge through said transverse RF gas discharge with the DC gas discharge current flowing between the metal surface areas of the first electrodes and the metal surface areas of the second electrode.