GAS LASER EXCITED BY CAPACITOR DISCHARGE

摘要

The laser comprises a gas-filled channel (51) extending between a pair of metal plates (2 and 3). The laser is excited by a spark discharge through the gas from one plate to the other. The energy for the spark comes form a pair of built-in capacitors extending between the plates on either side of the channel. The plates constitute the plates of the capacitors, and apart from a plastic retaining wall (37, 39) round each capacitor, the capacitor dielectric is water. The water is advantageously pumped (47) round a cooling circuit (48), and it is not permanently damaged if an accidental discharge takes place through the water. The invention is particularly applicable to nitrogen and to excimer lasers.