Substance vaporizing apparatus

Abstract: A substance vaporizing apparatus which uses a vapor (5) of a sub­ stance generated by heating the substance in a gas-filled tube (2) as an exciting medium or an ionizing medium. The apparatus employs an im­ proved container (22, 222, 224, 225) for containing the substance within the gas-filled tube (2). The improved container (22, 222, 224, 225) suppresses the rate of emission of the vapor (5) of the substance into a discharge space (3) defined by the gas-filled tube (2) to hold the vapor (5) density of the substance at an optimum low value for laser oscillation relative to the buffer gas density in the discharge space (3). Thus, the mean free path of the atoms of the substance, namely the average distance traveled by the atoms between elastic collisions with the electrons, ions and neutral atoms of the buffer gas, is increased to increase the number of atoms of the substance excited to a higher energy level, which, consequently, increases laser power and enhances laser beam or ion beam accelerating energy. The employment of segmental discharge electrodes (1a, 1b) each consisting of a plurality of partial electrodes diametrically distributed in the discharge space of the gas-filled tube (2) enables heating the buffer gas in a substantially uniform diametrical temperature distribution, which enables to increase the length and diameter of the laser medium. The employment of two pulse generating circuits (200, 300) promotes the relaxation of the atoms of the substance from a lower energy level to the ground energy level to enable the next application of a pulse voltage to establish a complete popula­ tion inversion, which enables the substance vaporizing apparatus to operate at a high efficiency at a high discharge frequency.

Description: The present invention relates to a substance vaporizing apparatus for generating a vapor of a substance to be used as an ionizing medium or an exciting medium and, more specifically, to a structure capable of functioning to vaporize a substance. A metal vapor laser and a vapor ion laser incorporate such a substance vaporizing apparatus. Fig. 1 shows a conventional metal vapor laser as, for example, published in 6th Nenji Taikai Koen Yoko-shu, 21aIIB3, pp. 60-63 (1986). As shown in Fig. 1, the metal vapor laser comprises discharge electrodes 1a and 1b, a cylindrical discharge tube 2 defining a discharge space 3 in which a metal vapor 5 produced by vaporizing metal pieces 4, such as copper pieces, is excited, a heat shield 6 formed of a heat-insulating material, such as wool, resonant mirrors 7a and 7b for laser oscillation, flanges 8a and 8b defining a sealed space including a vacuum chamber 9, an insulating tube 10, a sealing tube 11, a gas inlet port 12a, and a gas outlet port 12b. In operation, a pulse voltage is applied across the electrodes 1a and 1b to form a discharge within the discharge space 3, and then a buffer gas filling the discharge space 3 is heated by the energy of accelerated ions and electrons to vaporize the metal pieces 4. The ions and electrons accelerated by a pulse discharge and having high energy and high-temperature atoms of the heated buffer gas collide with the atoms of the vaporized metal and transfer their energy, so that the atoms of the vaporized metal is excited to a higher energy level. The heat shield 6 serves for maintaining the gas at a desired temperature to maintain a predetermined vapor density in the discharge space 3. The function of the vacuum chamber 9 is similar to that of the heat shield; the vacuum chamber 9 suppresses particularly convection heat loss. Light is emitted when the energy level of the atoms of the vaporized metal drops to a lower energy level or the ground energy level. The light thus emitted is amplified optically by the resonant mirrors 7a and 7b to emit a laser beam outside for industrial uses, such as laser machining. Fig. 2 shows the buffer gas temperature distribution and the vapor density distribution with respect to the diametrical and axial directions of the discharge space 3 in the metal vapor laser thus constructed. In Fig. 2, X-axis and Y-axis coincide respectively with the diametrical direction and the axial direction of the discharge space 3; temperature is measured upward on T-axis; indicated at 3a is the center axis of the discharge space 3 and at 3b are diametrically opposite ends of the discharge space. A curve ℓ represented by a dotted line indicates temperature distribution with respect to the axial direction, curves n₁, n₂ and n₃ represented by alternate long and short dash line indicate vapor distribution with respect to the diametrical direction, and curves m₁, m₂ and m₃ represented by continuous lines indicated temperature distribution with respect to the diametrical direction. As seen in Fig. 2, the temperature of the buffer gas decreases from the central portion of the discharge space 3 around the center axis 3a toward the periphery of the discharge space 3 represented by the diametrically opposite ends 3b. The temperature of the buffer gas in the vicinity of the axial ends of the discharge space 3 is lower than that in the central portion of the same. Since the vapor density distribution within the discharge tube 2 can be approximated by saturation vapor density n₀, which is a function of buffer gas temperature, the relation between the vapor density distribution curves n₁, n₂ and n₃ is expressed by: n₁ > n₂ = n₃. On the other hand, when the vapor density increases relative to the buffer gas density (buffer gas pressure), the mean free path of electrons, and the ions and neutral atoms of the buffer gas decreases, and hence the kinetic energy acquired by the electrons and ions from the electric field created by a pulse discharge before colliding against the atoms of the vapor decreases and when the temperature of the atoms of the vapor increase too much, the atoms of the vapor of lower energy level increase, therefore, the population inversion between the number of atoms of the vapor of a higher energy level and that of atoms of the vapor of a lower one is not created, consequently, the electrons and the ions are unable to excite the atoms of the vapor to an energy level high enough to a give a sufficient laser gain. This conventional metal vapor laser has a disadvantage that the vapor density is high in the central portion of the discharge space 3 and hence the laser power density is low in the central portion of the discharge space 3. From DE-A-28 24 761, a substance vaporizing apparatus is known for generating a vapor of a substance for use as an excited medium or an ionized medium in a vapor ion laser, wherein the vapor is generated by heating the substance in a container with holes in a gas-filled discharge tube. It is an object of the present invention to provide a substance vaporizing apparatus capable of enhancing the acceleration energy of a laser or an ion beam through the enhancement of laser power by maintaining the density of a vapor of a substance at a value optimum for laser oscillation, which is a relatively low vapor density as compared with the density of a buffer gas filling a discharge space, by suppressing the vaporization of the substance in the discharge space so that the mean free path of the atoms of the vaporized substance is increased thereby increasing the number of atoms of the vaporized substance excited to a higher energy level. The substance vaporizing apparatus according to the invention is defined in independent claim 1. Preferable embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The present invention will become more apparent from the reading of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which, however, are intended only to illustrate the invention and are not to be construed to limit the scope of the present invention. Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional metal vapor laser; Figure 2 is a graph showing the diametrical temperature distribution and the diametrical vapor density distribution in the discharge tube of a conventional substance vaporizing apparatus; Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are sectional views of an essential portion of a substance vaporizing apparatus in a first embodiment according to the present invention; Figure 4(a) and 4(b) are perspective views respectively showing modifications of the substance vaporizing apparatus in the first embodiment according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a sectional view of an essential portion of a substance vaporizing apparatus in a second embodiment according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a porous member employed in the substance vaporizing apparatus in the second embodiment according to the present invention; Figure 7 is a sectional view of an essential portion of a substance vaporizing apparatus in a third embodiment according to the present invention; Figure 8 is a sectional view of an essential portion of a substance vaporizing apparatus in a fourth embodiment according to the present invention; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of a ring employed in the substance vaporizing apparatus in the fourth embodiment according to the present invention; Shown in Figs. 3(a) and 3(b) is a substance vaporizing apparatus in a first embodiment according to the present invention. In a construction shown in Fig. 3(a), the substance vaporizing apparatus is provided with a container 22 provided with a plurality of through holes 24. The diameters of the through holes 24 nearer to the opposite ends of a discharge tube 2 are greater than those of the through holes 24 nearer to the middle of the discharge tube 2. For example, the diameter of the through hole 24 at the middle of the container 22 is on the order of 0.5 mm, and that of the through hole 24 adjacent to the extremity of the container 22 is on the order of 2 mm. Therefore, the metal vapor emitting rate per unit length of the container 22 is lower in the middle portion of the discharge space 3 than in the end portions of the discharge space 3 where the gas temperature Tg gas is lower than that in the middle portion. Thus, the vapor density is distributed uniformly with respect to the axial direction of the discharge space 3, so that the laser oscillation efficiency per unit length is enhanced. The first embodiment has been described on an assumption that the gas temperature Tg in the middle portion of the discharge space 3 is the highest, but a portion where the gas temperature Tg is the highest is not necessarily the middle portion depending on the construction of the substance vaporizing apparatus and the mode of pulse discharge. In such a case, the distribution of the metal vapor emitting rate per unit length may be changed according to the axial distribution of the gas temperature Tg in the discharge tube 2. In a construction shown in Fig. 3(b), the substance vaporizing apparatus is provided with a plurality of spherical containers 22 respectively having through holes 24 of different diameters. The spherical containers 22 are arranged so that the metal vapor is emitted into the end portions of the discharge space 3 at a higher emitting rate per unit length and into the middle portion of the discharge space 3 at a lower emitting rate per unit length. It is also possible to distribute spherical containers 22 provided respectively with through holes 24 of the same diameter so that the density of the through holes 24 increases toward the opposite ends of the discharge space 3. Annular containers may be used instead of the spherical containers 22. The annular containers emit the metal vapor into the circumference of the discharge space 3. Shown in Figs. 4(a) and 4(b) are modifications of the container employed in the substance vaporizing apparatus in the first embodiment. A container 221 shown in Fig. 4(a) has the shape of a box and is provided with a plurality of through holes 24 differing from each other in diameter. The diameters of the through holes 24 nearer to the opposite ends of the container 221 are greater than those of the through holes 24 nearer to the middle of the container 221. A container 221 shown in Fig. 4(b) is provided with a plurality of through holes 24 of the same diameter. The density of the through holes 24 is increased with axial distance from a predetermined axial position in the discharge tube 2. These modifications are the same in effect as the container 22 employed in the substance vaporizing apparatus in the second embodiment. The first embodiment and its modifications has an effect of increasing the space utilization efficiency, enabling the substance vaporizing apparatus to be formed in a compact construction and enhancing the output of the substance vaporizing apparatus. Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a substance vaporizing apparatus in a second embodiment according to the present invention comprises a gas-filled discharge tube 2 defining a discharge space 3, and a container 222 formed of a porous material, such as a porous ceramic, and provided within the discharge tube 2. A vapor generated in the container 222 is emitted from the container 222 through pores into the discharge space 3. The metal vapor emitting rate is suppressed by using a porous ceramic material having an appropriate pore density. Thus, the vapor is emitted in a uniform density distribution into the discharge space 2, so that the laser output is enhanced. Referring to Fig. 6, a laminated porous sheet 223 is formed by laminating a meshed or porous sheet 30, a metal sheet 4 and a substrate 31 in that order, and fastening the sheet 30 and the metal sheet 4 to the substrate 31 with pins 32. The laminated porous sheet 223 is wound in a tubular shape with the porous sheet 30 inside so as to surround the discharge space 3. The vapor 5 of the metal sheet 4 is emitted through the porous sheet 30 into the discharge space 3. The porous sheet 223 has pores formed therein in a small pore density to suppress the vapor emitting rate. The substrate 31 may be formed so as to function as a discharge tube 2 as well as the substrate proper. The container of the second embodiment has the effect of the second embodiment. Fig. 7 shows a substance vaporizing apparatus in a third embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 7, the substance vaporizing apparatus comprises a discharge tube 2 defining a discharge space 3, and a plurality of tubular containers 224 and 225 disposed in the periphery of the discharge space 3 and provided with through holes 24. Metal vapors 5 generated in the containers 224 and 225 are emitted radially inward through the through holes 24 into the discharge space 3. The vapor density in the discharge space is adjusted properly and the vapor is emitted into the discharge space 3 in a uniform vapor density distribution by selectively determining the respective diameters of the through holes 24. The containers 224 and 225 may be substituted by the laminated porous sheet employed in the third embodiment. The metal vapor is supplied from the periphery of the discharge space 3 so that the metal vapor can uniformly be distributed in the central region of the discharge space 3. The vapor emitting rate can be adjusted by selectively determining the respective diameters of the through holes 24, so that the efficiency of utilization can be increased and the substance vaporizing apparatus can be formed in a compact construction. Fig. 8 shows a substance vaporizing apparatus in a fourth embodiment according to the present invention. This substance vaporizing apparatus comprises a discharge tube 2 defining a discharge space 3, a plurality of containers 224 and 225, and a holding ring 33 for fixedly holding the containers 224 and 225 in the discharge space 3. As shown in Fig. 8, the holding ring 33 is formed of a heat-resistant material, such as a ceramic, molybdenum or tungsten, and is fitted in one end of the discharge tube 2. As shown in Fig. 9, the holding ring 33 is provided with, for example, four holes 33a in which the plurality of containers 224 and 225 are fitted. The holding ring 33 fixedly holding the containers 224 and 225 in the end of the discharge tube 2 to disposed the containers 224 and 225 at desired positions within the discharge space 3 so that the efficiency of utilization is increased. Thus, the substance vaporizing apparatus is able to operate at an improved efficiency.

Claims: A substance vaporizing apparatus for generating a vapor of a substance for use as an excited medium or an ionized medium in a vapor ion laser and wherein the vapor (5) is generated by heating the substance (4) in a gas-filled tube (2) defining a discharge space (3) and having discharge electrodes (1a, 1b), comprising at least one container (22) containing the substance (4), said at least one container (22) being disposed within the gas-filled tube (2) and in the case of said apparatus comprising only one container (22), said one container being provided with a plurality of holes (24) extending through its wall and in the case of said apparatus comprising a plurality of containers (22), each container being provided with one or a plurality of holes (24) extending through its wall; whereby said holes serve to connect the interior of said at least one container (22) with the interior of said gas-filled tube (2), thereby forming a flow passage for vapor (5) generated within said at least one container (22) to flow from the interior of said at least one container (22) into the interior of said gas-filled tube (2); wherein a) the respective diameters of said holes (24) nearer to the axially opposite ends of the tube (2) are greater than the diameters of said holes (24) nearer to the middle of the tube (2) or b) the distances between said holes (24) nearer to the axially opposite ends of the tube (2) are smaller than the distances between said holes (24) nearer to the middle of the tube (2), whereby the combined area of said holes (24) per unit length of said tube (2) is greater nearer to the axially opposite ends of the tube (2) than nearer to the middle of the tube (2) and the vapor (5) emitting rate of the container (22) is thereby varied with respect to the axial direction of the gas-filled tube (2) so that a substantially uniformly distributed vapor density is established in the axial direction within the tube (2). A substance vaporizing apparatus according to claim 1 comprising only one container (22), wherein the container (22) is a porous member positioned to extend around said substance (4) whereby the pores of said porous member constitute said holes, said porous member being positioned within the gas-filled tube (2) and providing a porous flow path for the vapor (5) generated within said porous member to flow from the interior of said porous member into the interior of said gas-filled tube (2). A substance vaporizing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said containers (22) containing the substance (4), said containers (22) being arranged around said discharge space (3), each of said containers (22) being provided with a plurality of holes (24) extending through its wall to connect the interior of each of said containers (22) with said discharge space (3), thereby forming a flow passage for the vapor (5) generated within each of said containers (22) to flow from the interior of each of said containers (22) into said discharge space (3) of said gas-filled tube (2). A substance vaporizing apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 3, comprising: one or a plurality of containers (224, 225) containing the substance (4) disposed within the gas-filled tube (2); and a holding member (33) fixedly holding the container or containers (224, 225) in a fixed position within the gas-filled tube (2).

Inventors: HARA KAZUHIKO C O MITSUBISHI D, TABATA YOICHIRO C O MITSUBISHI, UEDA YOSHIHIRO C O MITSUBISHI, UEGURI SHIGEO C O MITSUBISHI D, HARA, KAZUHIKO, C/O MITSUBISHI DENKI K.K., TABATA, YOICHIRO, C/O MITSUBISHI DENKI K.K., UEDA, YOSHIHIRO, C/O MITSUBISHI DENKI K.K., UEGURI, SHIGEO, C/O MITSUBISHI DENKI K.K.
Applicants: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP, MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H01S3
IPC codes: H01S3