| 摘要 |
An improved negative glow discharge hollow cathode device for generating laser radiation. The device comprises a hollow cathode assembly substantially surrounded by an anode envelope having a body section and a pair of end sections, each of the end sections terminating in a radiation transmission member. The metal laser medium is enclosed in the vicinity of the perforations in the cathode such that the metal vapor can be readily introduced into the cathode central region effectively and efficiently. The anode to cathode discharge paths is reduced by the use of an anode screen such that the glow discharge is directed into the cathode central region with a controlled discharge gap for optimum pressure and confined negative glow discharge within the cathode. The metal laser medium, in the form of a metal foil or sheet, is lined adjacent the cathode outer surface and perforated cathode holes in the lower half portion of the cathode. Metal vapor is released into the cathode by evaporation due to sputtering and heating of the discharge, the metal vapor being confined within the cathode by the cataphoretic pumping from the anode screen and recondensation onto the cathode inner surface. An insulation sleeve adjacent the metal foil has one row of equally spaced slots and provides a uniform discharge gap and path along the cathode by aligning the slots with the perforated holes on the upper portion of the cathode. The anode screen is wrapped around the insulator sleeve and electrically connected to the outer vacuum anode envelope. The glow discharge is maintained from the anode through the slots into the cathode inner space. Since the cathode outer surface is insulated by the sleeve, the discharge is effectively confined.
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