Spectra-physics Gmbh

Spectra Physics Lasers, Inc.

Denes A Hegedus

David L Wright

Lee R Carlson

Steven M Jarrett

Michael F Miller

Martin E Riley

Jeffrey L Kaiser

Alan B Peterson

A rotatable, bakeable vacuum sealed mount for an optical element, suitable for use on an endbell assembly for a gas discharge tube or as an integral part of a gas discharge tube for an ion laser comprises an elongated support member, having an axis and a passage along the axis of the support member. A first end of the support member is connected by a vacuum tight seal to the vacuum sealed chamber of the gas discharge tube, so that the passage has an opening toward the vacuum sealed chamber. A second end of the support member is connectable by vacuum tight seal to the optic, so that the second end of the passage has an opening toward the optic. A portion of the support member has a yield strength allowing adjustment by twisting of the support member about the axis for establishing a rotational alignment of the optic without breaking the vacuum of the vacuum sealed chamber. A bearing member, having a cylindrical bearing surface coaxial with the axis of the support member, supports the support member near the second end, so that the optic remains substantially transversely aligned relative to the axis of the support member during twisting for establishing the rotational alignment.

Rotatable vacuum sealed mount for optical element, endbell assembly for

A disk, or heat web, is generally circularly shaped, and has a circumferential lip normal to the plane of the disk. A split ring, fabricated from a material having a low co-efficient of thermal expansion fits within the circumferential lip. A generally circularly shaped expansion member, made from a material having a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion, fits within the split ring. A suitable brazing material is placed between the split ring and the circumferential lip of the disk. The heat produced by the brazing process expands the split ring and allows it to be brazed into place when the assembly is placed on the inside of the cylindrical member.

Interference fit laser disk

A discharge tube for a gas laser including an elongated cylindrical tube, a plurality of heat-conduction members spaced apart along the cylindrical tube and about the tube axis and having gas-flow return holes near the outer perimeter thereof, and a plurality of non-conductive, pronged, disc-shaped blocking members being positioned, respectively, in the space between and outside the volume of adjacent heat conduction members so as to be unattached to either adjacent heat conduction member.

Discharge tube for a gas laser

A plasma tube for a gas laser includes a series of heat webs and insulative spacers between the heat webs, with tungsten bore insert members supported by the heat webs and having aligned apertures defining a laser discharge path. To produce the plasma tube, the heat webs, spacers and other connected components are assembled in a vertical stack outside the ceramic tube of the laser, with a stacking gauge which helps assure that the heat webs are correctly spaced apart within close tolerances. The heat webs lie adjacent to annular metallized areas on the inside surface of the ceramic tube when the assembly is inserted into the tube, which is precision-formed ceramic tubing. The tube assembly is heated in vertical orientation to expand the heat webs diametrically so that they engage outwardly against and are brazed to the metallized areas of the ceramic tube. The heat webs are of a special configuration that substantially eliminates hoop stress in the ceramic tube under conditions of rising and falling temperature in the discharge tube. For adding gas to the discharge tube, a special fill system is connected to the discharge tube for metering small and precise volumes of gas into the discharge tube when needed. The construction of the fill system also aids in heat-cleaning steps in the assembly of the laser, and in the initial gas fill. A cooling system for the discharge tube, surrounding the ceramic tube, includes a variable pitch helical flow diverter for effecting more efficient and uniform cooling of the discharge tube.

Growing community of inventors

Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Denes A Hegedus