Conduction cooled laser bore structures formed from graphite and other materials

摘要

The subject invention is related to a new and improved bore assembly for use with a gaseous ion laser. Each bore assembly is mountable to a heat conducting member located within the tube. The heat conducting member is provided with a central opening and is connected at the periphery thereof to the inner surface of the tube. The bore assembly of the subject invention includes a discharge confining element having a central channel and formed from a sputter-resistant material such as graphite. An outer support member is provided which is disposed about at least a portion of the discharge confining element and is brazed to the heat conducting member in a manner to mechanically constrain the discharge confining element. During assembly, the opening of the channels of the discharge confining elements are coaxially aligned. During operation of the laser, the mechanically constrained discharge confining element will be heated and expand radially into the outer support member until thermal equilibrium is achieved thereby defining a thermally conductive pathway for cooling the laser.