Coherent, Inc.

Benjamin H Cook, Jr

William P Kolb

A gas laser includes a housing containing a lasing gas. Means are provided for electrically exciting the gas including a cathode mounted at one end of the housing and an anode mounted at the other end. The temperature of the anode is monitored and a control signal is generated which is indicative of the temperature that is measured. An automatic gas supply apparatus is activated to vary the gas pressure in the housing in response to the control signal. Additionally, the temperature that is measured may be normalized to counteract the effects of the ambient temperature of the anode.

Pressure regulation system for gas laser based on temperature of anode

An improved laser mirror (22) is disclosed with wavelength selective coatings on the inner and outer surfaces (32) and (34) thereof. The coating on the inner surface (32) is reflective of light in a first wavelength region (36) and transmissive of light in a second wavelength region (38). The outer surface (34) is reflective of light in the second wavelength region ( 38). In the preferred embodiment, one of the surfaces of the mirror is planar and the other is curved to facilitate alignment. The different curvatures of the inner and outer surfaces allows the diameter of the beam of the two wavelength regions to be independently controlled allowing optimization of the mode generated by the laser (20).

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Livermore, CA, United States of America

Benjamin H Cook, Jr