USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Edward J Seibert

Marie E Taylor

Gerald D Ferguson

A confinement cylinder is disclosed having opposite end regions and a cenl region, each acting as reservoirs for holding liquid metal for a metal vapor laser discharge device. The confinement cylinder is located at the central region of the discharge chamber of the laser device and allows the liquid metal to be raised to a temperature sufficient so that the liquid metal may transition into its vapor state, find its way back to the discharge chamber, and actively participate in the production of lasing.

Liquid metal confinement cylinder for optical discharge devices

An electrode assembly for a gas or metal vapor discharge device is disclosed. A pair of electrode assemblies each comprising thoriated tungsten with an alloy composition of tungsten (W) and from about 2% to about 3% of thorium dioxide ThO2 are located at opposite ends of the discharge chamber of the discharge device. The tip of the electrode preferably has four slots equally spaced around its circumference and a groove at its outermost edge. The tip of the electrode provides mechanical flexibility that inhibits the cracking of the thoriated tungsten electrode when it is mounted in the discharge device. Each electrode assembly further comprises a copper spacer, preferably I-shaped in cross-section, brazed against the base of the electrode and against a vacuum flange. The pair of electrode assemblies confines the discharge of the discharge device between the tips of the electrodes and inhibits the arc condition from finding its way to delicate vacuum seals. The electrode assembly provides a clear optical aperture to allow light or laser radiation to exit the discharge cell.

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Chalfont, PA, United States of America

Edward J Seibert