High power gas transport laser

摘要

Continuous wave (CW) output power from a gas transport laser is substantially increased without arcing by the use of a tubular cathode having a racetrack-shaped cross section and disposed in the main stream of gas flow through the laser channel transversely of the direction of flow and spaced above and upstream from a coextensive segmented anode in the opposite wall of the channel. The racetrack-shaped cross-sectional configuration of the cathode provides maximum electrode surface for generating a glow mode electric discharge and also induces turbulence at that surface so as to support high current densities without arcing. Continuous output power greater than 3.5 KW is achieved with improved efficiency with this electrode configuration.