Ferranti Plc

John McLeod

James B Howie

A laser energy control circuit for a gas-discharge excited laser includes an energy source PSU to supply energy to the gas discharge. First circuit means TR1, TR2 operate to limit the energy supplied to a first value for a first time interval, after which second circuit means A1, A2 allow the energy to rise to a maximum value and then decrease gradually to a second value over a second time interval. Subsequently, third circuit means including amplifiers A3 to A6 operate to maintain the light output of the laser at a desired value.

Laser energy control circuit

A method of bonding an optical element (12) to a support (10) requires the formation on the support of a thin pad (11) of material of substantially the same dimensions as the base of the optical element. The material of the pad is one to which the adhesive to be used will not adhere. The optical element (12) is positioned on the pad (11) and a fillet of the adhesive (13) is applied around the base of the element, in contact with both the base of the element and with the support. As a modification, an aperture (14) may be formed in the pad (11) and filled with a rapid-setting adhesive (15) to secure the element in position while the fillet of adhesive is applied.

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom

John McLeod