Patent ID: 7595463

Claim:
A laser-processing machine comprising: a laser that produces laser radiation at a wavelength λ and that is associated with one or more operating gases, wherein the one or more operating gases include one or more gases of the gas atmosphere through which the laser is guided, one or more laser-processing machine gases that are used on the workpiece, and one or more supply gases for the laser; a means for decoupling diagnostic radiation from the laser radiation that is produced by the laser, the means for decoupling diagnostic radiation being positioned in the path of the laser radiation that is produced by the laser thus providing diagnostic radiation that is used for analysis of one or more operating gases and providing laser radiation that is directed to the workpiece; a measuring cell that contains a portion of the one or more operating gases to be analyzed, the measuring cell being positioned downstream of the means for decoupling diagnostic radiation and in the path of the decoupled diagnostic radiation such that the measuring cell receives the decoupled diagnostic radiation; and a sound detector for detecting a photo-acoustical effect due to absorption of the diagnostic radiation at the wavelength λ by the portion of one or more operating gases in the measuring cell to thereby analyze the one or more operating gases.