Patent ID: 6473445
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A gas laser having:(a) a housing providing an elongated cavity; (b) a first elongated electrode tube within said cavity having an inner diameter; (c) a second elongated electrode tube disposed coaxially within said first electrode tube and having an outer diameter smaller than said inner diameter of said first electrode tube and spaced therefrom so as to provide a gas discharge chamber therebetween, said second electrode tube providing a gas exit chamber therewithin, said first electrode tube being spaced from the wall of said cavity to provide a gas entry chamber thereabout, said electrode tubes permitting gas to flow therethrough from said gas entry chamber to said gas exit chamber; (d) laser gas circulating means for supplying laser gas to said gas entry chamber and for withdrawing laser gas from said exit chamber; (e) power supply means for producing a discharge between said electrodes to generate a laser beam travelling axially within said gas discharge chamber; and (f) mirrors at the ends of said gas discharge chamber for reflecting the laser beam therebetween and providing an exit aperture for the laser beam.