Gas Laser Shielding Member Suppresses Parasitic Oscillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas laser devices with saturable absorbers have complex and expensive mechanisms that fail to efficiently suppress parasitic oscillation.
Innovation Solution
A gas laser device with a shielding member protruding from the discharge electrodes towards the optical axis, arranged between pairs of discharge electrodes, and formed integral with the electrode supporting structure, which is designed to suppress parasitic oscillation without interfering with the laser light, using a shape and material that scatters or absorbs the oscillating light effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a saturable absorber is used to suppress parasitic oscillation, then parasitic oscillation is blocked, but the device becomes large, complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex saturable absorber mechanism from the laser device. Instead of using a separate saturable absorber component, the patent uses the inherent properties of the laser cavity and discharge electrode geometry to suppress parasitic oscillation, thereby removing the need for the complicated SA mechanism while maintaining parasitic oscillation suppression functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the expensive and complex saturable absorber with a simple, cost-effective electrode structure modification. The shielding member is integrated into the discharge electrode assembly, using readily available materials and simple geometric features (protrusions or extensions) that are inexpensive to manufacture and maintain
2Reliability
If a shielding member protrudes toward the optical axis to suppress parasitic oscillation, then parasitic oscillation is suppressed, but the laser light may be interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding member is designed with localized protrusions that extend only into specific regions of the discharge gap where parasitic oscillation occurs. The protrusion height and positioning are carefully controlled to affect only off-axis parasitic beams while leaving the central optical axis clear for the main laser beam, thus achieving selective suppression without interfering with useful laser light
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding member protrusions are designed to extend partially into the discharge region, providing just enough obstruction to suppress parasitic oscillation paths without fully blocking the optical axis. This partial action is sufficient to eliminate harmful parasitic modes while maintaining full transmission of the desired laser beam
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution efficiently suppresses parasitic oscillation with a simple and cost-effective structure, enhancing the amplification efficiency and preventing burnout, while maintaining high beam quality and reducing the complexity of the device.
Implementation Method 1
a shape and material that scatters or absorbs the oscillating light effectively
Implementation Method 2
a shape and material that scatters or absorbs the oscillating light effectively
Implementation Method 3
laser light passes through a laser gas excited by electrical discharge
Data Source
AI summary
A gas laser device which can perform optical amplification, laser light passing through a laser gas excited by electrical discharge, including: a first and second pair of discharge electrodes arranged longitudinally along an optical axis of the laser light; at least two mirrors reflecting the laser light amplified by the gas laser, the mirrors arranged opposite to each other to interpose a first discharge region defined by the first pair of discharge electrodes and a second discharge region defined by the second pair of discharge electrodes therebetween; and a shielding member located between the first pair of discharge electrodes and the second pair of discharge electrodes, the shielding member protruding from electrode surfaces of the discharge electrodes toward the optical axis of the laser light. The configuration can efficiently suppress parasitic oscillation with a simple structure.