Configuration of electrodes for transversely excited gas lasers

Abstract

The present invention is a configuration of electrodes in a transversely excited gas laser which includes an elongated cylindrical chamber with a laser gas confined therein, a pair of reflectors which reflect light energy from a discharge of the laser gas within the chamber so that the light energy travels longitudinally the length thereof, an rf generator which applies a voltage of alternating polarity between the electrodes at a frequency ranging from 10 Mhz to about 3 GHz to establish the laser gas discharge, a coupling circuit which matches the steady state reactive impedance of the chamber to the impedance of the rf generator and couples the rf generator to the electrodes. The configuration of the electrodes, each of which is formed from an electrically conductive material and is in the shape of a continuous helix, includes a first electrode and a second electrode each of which is disposed opposite to the other on the outer surface of the chamber in a first plane. The configuration of electrodes also includes a third electrode and a fourth electrode each of which is disposed opposite to the other on the outer surface of the chamber in a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane. The phase correlation of the configuration of electrodes is such that the first electrode is in phase with the second electrode, the third electrode is in phase with the fourth electrode and the first electrode is 180.degree. out of phase with the third electrode.