PULSED GAS LASERS

摘要

A pulsed gas laser such as a recombination laser comprises a laser tube (1, 41) enclosing a gaseous medium such as He-Xe or He-Sr. A mirror (14) near one end of the tube (1) and an output coupler (23) near the other end define a laser cavity and allow laser light to be emitted. Electrical control circuitry, and electrodes (21, 25) at the end of the laser tube in the laser cavity, apply a short voltage discharge pulse to the gas; this raises the gas to an excited state. Following the end of this pulse the gas recombines and lases, causing emission of a short laser output pulse. The invention improves the amplitude and duration of laser output pulse by providing one or more diodes (D1, D2, D3, D5, D6) in the laser control circuitry; these reduce current oscillations in the laser gas following ending of the initial discharge pulse.