Gas-discharge ignition or extinguishing appts. esp for high-power gas lasers

摘要

The appts. triggers or extinguishes electric gas discharge. The discharge is triggered between two electrodes arranged in a gas discharge chamber. The appts. includes a high frequency generator. The high frequency signal is coupled into the discharge chamber to trigger the discharge. The high frequency energy (9) may be fed to the discharge chamber via a hollow conductor (2), a coax cable, a dielectric waveguide or a beam waveguide.The method involves setting a DC or AC voltage between the electrodes (15) to such an amplitude that the discharge is not yet triggered. To trigger the discharge, high frequency energy is provided and maintained for the desired discharge period. To extinguish the discharge, the supply of high frequency energy is stopped.