GB2120838A

GB2120838A - Ion lasers

Info

Publication number: GB2120838A
Application number: GB08310025A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rainer Nitsche; Rolf Malkmus; Jurgen Schafer; Detlef Stuhl
Original assignee: WC Heraus GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: WC Heraus GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1982-05-19
Filing date: 1983-04-13
Publication date: 1983-12-07
Also published as: DE3218908A1; DE3218908C2; GB2120838B; GB8310025D0; FR2527391A1

Abstract

An ion laser for omnipositional operation in particular a Relium metal ion laser with cataphoretic vapour transport, comprising a barrier 3 for the vapourisable metal. The barrier 3 consists of porous non-wettable material. Due to this arrangement, no fluid metal may penetrate into the discharge tube 4 when the position of the laser is varied during operation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION lon lasers The present invention relates to ion lasers of the kind comprising a gas discharge vessel, in particular a helium - metal vapour - ion laser with cataphoretic vapour transport for monochromatic radiation emerging at high intensity, comprising a capillary discharge tube, a storage vessel and/or a smelting furnace for the metal which is to be vapourised being connected to the discharge tube and/or to a sheating tube surrounding the discharge tube.

Hereinafter such ion lasers will be referred to as "of the kind described".

An ion laser of the kind described is known from the United Kingdom Patent Application 2 085 647A.

An ion laser of this nature is applied for example for instruction in schools, for calibrating purposes, in geodesy and surveying, in medicine and physical measurements and analysis. In these applications, the known laser is generally applied statically.

The present invention has the fundamental object of discovering new spheres of application for the known ion laser.

Accordingly, the invention consists in an ion laser of the kind described wherein a barrier permeable to the metal vapour only is arranged between the melt in the storage vessel and/or melting furnace and the discharge tube.

The advantages of the ion laser constructed in accordance with the invention consist in that the fluid metal present in the storage vessel is prevented from penetrating into the laser capillary during operation of the laser even during rapid pivotal displacements as well as jolts. The invention thus reliably allows of operating the laser in accordance with the invention independently of position and is consequently particularly appropriate for application in vehicles.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show certain embo dimentsthereof by way of example and in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment used in one position, Figure 2 shows the same embodiment used in another position, and Figure 3 shows a second embodiment.

The fundamental structure of an ion laser was disclosed in the United Kingdom Patent Application No. 2085 647A. The accompanying drawings are consequently limited to the essential parts of the invention.

Refering now to the drawings, these show two different storage vessels 2 and 2' with the barrier 3 permeable only by the metal vapour. This barrier is installed in the storage vessel 2, close to the maximum possible metal level. The storage vessel 2 is illustrated in horizontal position in Figure 1 and is tipped position in Figure 2. In the case of the storage vessel 2' of Figure 3, the barrier 3 represents an extension of the discharge tube 4. The fluid metal is isolated from the discharge tube 4 by the barrier which allows the metal to pass only in the vapour phase. The barrier 3 is preferably made from a material which is not wetted by the metal 1,for example such as glass or fused silica. The barrier may be in the form of a frit.The pore size amounts to 50 - 100 Fm for example, and may be of such size only that no droplets may pass through. Due to the negative boundary surface tension of the nonwettable material, the metal 1 is kept within the storage vessel 2 or 2' respectively, and only the metal vapour is allowed to pass through. It is also possible to utilise a barrier of glass fibre mat.

The laser may be applied as an indicator laser in vehicles, such as constructional implements, or as a cockpit display in aircraft.

1. An ion laser of the kind described wherein a barrier permeable to the metal vapour only is arranged between the melt in the storage vessel and/or melting furnace and the discharge tube.

2. An ion laser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier consists of porous material not wettable by the metal.

3. An ion laser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the barrier is in the form of a glass or fused silica frit.

4. An ion laser as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the barrier has a pore size of 50 to 100 ,um.

5. An ion laser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings.

6. An ion laser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION lon lasers The present invention relates to ion lasers of the kind comprising a gas discharge vessel, in particular a helium - metal vapour - ion laser with cataphoretic vapour transport for monochromatic radiation emerging at high intensity, comprising a capillary discharge tube, a storage vessel and/or a smelting furnace for the metal which is to be vapourised being connected to the discharge tube and/or to a sheating tube surrounding the discharge tube. Hereinafter such ion lasers will be referred to as "of the kind described". An ion laser of the kind described is known from the United Kingdom Patent Application 2 085 647A. An ion laser of this nature is applied for example for instruction in schools, for calibrating purposes, in geodesy and surveying, in medicine and physical measurements and analysis. In these applications, the known laser is generally applied statically. The present invention has the fundamental object of discovering new spheres of application for the known ion laser. Accordingly, the invention consists in an ion laser of the kind described wherein a barrier permeable to the metal vapour only is arranged between the melt in the storage vessel and/or melting furnace and the discharge tube. The advantages of the ion laser constructed in accordance with the invention consist in that the fluid metal present in the storage vessel is prevented from penetrating into the laser capillary during operation of the laser even during rapid pivotal displacements as well as jolts. The invention thus reliably allows of operating the laser in accordance with the invention independently of position and is consequently particularly appropriate for application in vehicles. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show certain embo dimentsthereof by way of example and in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment used in one position, Figure 2 shows the same embodiment used in another position, and Figure 3 shows a second embodiment. The fundamental structure of an ion laser was disclosed in the United Kingdom Patent Application No. 2085 647A. The accompanying drawings are consequently limited to the essential parts of the invention. Refering now to the drawings, these show two different storage vessels 2 and 2' with the barrier 3 permeable only by the metal vapour. This barrier is installed in the storage vessel 2, close to the maximum possible metal level. The storage vessel 2 is illustrated in horizontal position in Figure 1 and is tipped position in Figure 2. In the case of the storage vessel 2' of Figure 3, the barrier 3 represents an extension of the discharge tube 4. The fluid metal is isolated from the discharge tube 4 by the barrier which allows the metal to pass only in the vapour phase. The barrier 3 is preferably made from a material which is not wetted by the metal 1,for example such as glass or fused silica. The barrier may be in the form of a frit.The pore size amounts to 50 - 100 Fm for example, and may be of such size only that no droplets may pass through. Due to the negative boundary surface tension of the nonwettable material, the metal 1 is kept within the storage vessel 2 or 2' respectively, and only the metal vapour is allowed to pass through. It is also possible to utilise a barrier of glass fibre mat. The laser may be applied as an indicator laser in vehicles, such as constructional implements, or as a cockpit display in aircraft. CLAIMS