LASERS

摘要

A gas laser 10 has a support tube 40 supporting and maintaining the alignment of the optical resonator structure 24, the tube containing active medium and being in communication with the discharge tube 26 in which lasing occurs. An active temperature controller maintains the lasing medium in the tube (40) at a substantially constant temperature above ambient by means of a temperature sensor 20 and a servo 22. An active pressure controller uses a pressure sensor 30, an electronic processor, and a motor-driven needle valve 14 to maintain the pressure of the lasing medium in the laser 10 within the desired operating pressure range. The laser 10 can be switched in operation from a continuous mode to a pulsing mode by using switches to create an asymmetrical flux pattern in the transformer of a power supply system. An active power control system maintains the power output of the laser at the desired level through an active feedback loop in which the output beam is used to generate a voltage signal for control of discharge current. Because the optical resonator structure 24 is lightweight, it can be mounted on a movable mechanical assembly (155) for delivery of the beam to a desired location. The assembly includes linked relatively movable members with reflecting mirrors in the joints for transmitting the beam. The laser may form part of a distributive lasing system comprising a centralized pump 36 delivering the lasing medium to a plurality of remotely located optical resonator structures 24, each of which may have a separate heat exchanger 18.