Nec Corporation

Nidek Co., Ltd.

Toshitake Shinji

Yasuo Ota

Hirokazu Nakamura

A laser apparatus has a laser device, a first reflection mirror, an output mirror and a second reflection mirror. The laser device oscillates first and second laser light beams. The first reflection mirror reflects a first laser light beam and is fixed at one end of an optical axis. The second reflection mirror reflects a second laser light beam and is arranged between the laser device and the first reflection mirror so as to be movable with respect to the optical axis. The output mirror reflects the first and second laser light beams and is fixed at the other end of the optical axis. With such a structure, the second reflection mirror is set to first and second positions. Specifically, the second reflection mirror is remote from the optical axis in the first position. Consequently, the first laser light beam is amplified between the first reflection mirror and the output mirror. On the other hand, the second reflection mirror is placed on the optical axis in the second position. Consequently, the second laser light beam is amplified between the second reflection mirror and the output mirror.

Laser apparatus for generating different wavelength regions

An ion laser apparatus having an electromagnet for converging plasma is disclosed for providing stabilized laser operation for a long time. An electromagnet control circuit provided within a power source is capable of changing either voltage or current of the electromagnet while an ion laser tube is discharged. Due to the change of magnetic field of the electromagnet during discharging of the ion laser tube, the plasma configuration is changed while adding intensity to the convergence of the plasma within the ion laser tube, thus inhibiting a stay of a gas within a fine tube to provide stabilized laser operation.

Ion laser apparatus

An ion laser apparatus capable of simultaneous oscillation at a plurality of wavelengths is provided, which makes it possible to stabilize not only the overall output beam but also each component of the output beam. A laser tube having a pair of optical mirrors at each end is driven by a first electric current, thereby causing a specific electric discharge in the tube. A magnetic-field generator is driven by a second electric current, thereby generating a specific magnetic field in the tube to focus or collect a plasma generated in the tube. An optical beam splitter splits a reference beam generated from the output laser beam into first and second feedback beams. First and second detectors detect the feedback beams to thereby generate first and second electric signals, respectively. The electric discharge in the tube is controlled by the use of the first electric signal, and the magnetic field in the tube is controlled by the use of the second electric signal. The fact that the magnetic field has an optimum value which varies dependent upon the wavelength value of the second feedback beam is used for stabilizing each component of the output beam.

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Tokyo, Japan

Toshitake Shinji