High speed axial flow type gas laser oscillator

Abstract

A high-speed axial flow gas laser oscillator has plurality of laser tubes arranged parallel to and interconnected with one another to form a plurality of parallel, straight length sections for resonating and amplifying a laser gas, electrode means associated with the laser tubes for ionizing and thereby incidently heating a laser gas circulated therethrough, means for circulating the laser gas through the laser oscillator, and heat exchanger means for cooling the laser gas circulated through the laser oscillator. A plurality of gas recirculation paths are positioned on opposite sides of the laser gas circulating means and are disposed symmetrically with respect to the laser gas circulating means and the parallel, straight length sections formed by the laser tubes. Means are disposed in each of the recirculation paths between the laser tubes and the gas recirculation means so as to be symmetrical with respect to the laser tubes and the gas recirculation means for deionizing the laser gas so that the heated laser gas may be recirculated through the heat exchanger and into the laser tubes in an electrically neutral state whereby the flow rates of the laser gas flowing through the laser tubes and the length of the gas recirculation paths are substantially equal, thereby maintaining a temperature increase in each of the laser tubes substantially equal.