JPH03237773A - Metal vapor laser equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the heat loss in the axial direction caused by radiation from an inner discharge tube, and improve laser efficiency, by blockading the part between a vacuum jacket and an inner discharge tube by using a heat reflecting plate which is heat-resistant and insulative, at the axial end portion of an atmospheric heat insulating layer filling the part between the vacuum jacket and the inner discharge tube. CONSTITUTION:Heat reflecting plates 15 are installed between both ends of an inner discharge tube 2 in the axial direction and a vacuum jacket 1, and closely cover both end portions of an atmospheric heat insulating layer 3. These heat reflecting plates 15 are constituted of two divided semicircular type rings 15a, 15b made of quartz members (heat-resistant insulating members). Heat reflecting mirror surfaces 15c wherein gold as material of high reflection factor is vapor-deposited are formed on the inner end surfaces in the axial direction of the divided rings 15a, 15b. The heat radiated from the inner discharge tube 2 is reflected by the heat reflecting plates 15, so that the heat loss of the inner discharge tube 2 in the axial direction can be blocked.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a metal vapor laser device for obtaining laser light by exciting metal vapor by melting metal grains such as copper grains with discharge heat, and in particular, a metal vapor laser device that is designed to reduce heat loss due to radiation in the axial direction. This invention relates to a vapor laser device.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a conventional metal vapor laser device. In the figure, 1 is a vacuum vessel (vacuum jacket t-) made of a metal outer tube, la is formed on the peripheral wall of the vacuum vessel l, and is described later. A vacuum layer for controlling heat transfer from the discharge inner tube 2 in the radial direction and heat loss due to convection; 2 is the discharge inner tube inserted into the axial center of the vacuum vessel 1; 3 is the vacuum vessel 1 and the discharge inner tube 2, an atmospheric insulation layer such as a wool layer to prevent heat transfer from the discharge inner tube 2 in the radial direction and heat loss due to convection; 4, the discharge inner tube 2; Metal grains such as copper grains are installed in the inner discharge tube 2 to generate metal vapor, 5 is a cylindrical cathode connected to one end (the left end in FIG. 3) of the inner discharge tube 2, and 6 is the cathode 5. 7 is a cathode terminal connected to the cathode 5 via an electrode flange 8, and 9 is the other end of the discharge inner tube 2 (in FIG. 3). 10 is a window for extracting laser light on the anode side provided at the outer end of this anode 9, 11 is an anode terminal, and this anode terminal 11 is connected to the vacuum vessel l and A connecting plate 12 that closes the anode side end of the vacuum container 1 and an electrode flange 1 on the anode 9 side.
The anode 9 is connected to the anode 9 via the anode 3 and the anode 9. Therefore, the space between the vacuum vessel 1 and the discharge inner tube 2 at the end of the five cathodes of the atmospheric heat insulating layer 3 is a space open to the atmosphere. 14 is a discharge gas sealed in the discharge inner tube 2. Next, the operation will be explained. When a pulse voltage is applied between the cathode terminal 7 and the anode terminal 11, a pulse discharge is generated between the cathode 5 and the anode 9 in the atmosphere of the discharge gas 14 in the discharge inner tube 2, thereby causing the above-mentioned discharge. The inside of the inner tube 2 is in a discharge state. The heat generated by the discharge is conducted to the discharge inner tube 2 and radiated from the discharge inner tube 2 in the radial and axial directions. Heat loss due to radiation from the discharge tube 2 is suppressed as much as possible by the atmospheric heat insulating layer 3 surrounding the discharge inner tube 2 and the vacuum layer 1a.
The temperature of the discharge inner tube 2 rises. Due to this temperature rise, the metal particles 4 within the discharge inner tube 2 are melted, and metal vapor necessary for obtaining laser oscillation is generated. Then, this metal vapor is excited by the pulse voltage, causing population inversion. For this reason, if optical resonators (not shown) are placed outside the windows 6.10 at both ends of the inner discharge tube 2, laser light can be obtained through these windows 6.10.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Since the conventional metal vapor laser device is configured as described above, heat is radiated and conducted from the discharge inner tube 2 into the atmospheric heat insulating layer 3, and the heat transferred in the axial direction in the atmospheric heat insulating layer 3 is However, there was a problem in that the laser efficiency was lost due to the space between the vacuum vessel I and the discharge inner tube 2, resulting in a decrease in laser efficiency. This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a metal vapor laser that can efficiently reduce axial heat loss due to radiation from the discharge inner tube and improve laser efficiency. The purpose is to obtain equipment.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the metal vapor laser device according to the present invention, a heat-resistant insulating layer is provided between the vacuum jacket and the discharge inner tube at the axial end of the atmospheric insulation layer filled between the vacuum jacket and the discharge inner tube. It is closed with a heat reflector.

[For use]

In the metal vapor laser device of the present invention, heat is emitted from the inner discharge tube into the atmospheric insulation layer, and the heat that is convected and transmitted in the axial direction in the atmospheric insulation layer is reflected into the atmospheric insulation layer by the heat reflection plate. Axial heat loss from the atmospheric insulation layer due to radiation from the discharge inner tube is reduced, improving laser efficiency.

【Example】

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure is a sectional view of a metal vapor laser device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a heat reflecting plate, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the heat reflecting plate. The same reference numerals are used to omit redundant explanation. In the figure, reference numeral 15 denotes a heat reflecting plate that is provided between the vacuum jacket 1 at both ends of the discharge inner tube 2 in the axial direction, and closely covers both ends of the atmospheric heat insulating layer 3. These heat reflecting plates 15, as shown in FIG.
A heat reflecting mirror surface 15c (see FIG. 2) formed of, for example, vapor-deposited gold as a high reflectance material is formed on the axially inner end surfaces of the mirrors a and 15b. Next, the operation will be explained. Between the electrodes in the atmosphere of the discharge gas 14 in the discharge inner tube 2 (
The heat generated by the pulse discharge (between the cathode 5 and the anode 9) is transferred to the discharge inner tube 2 and radiated from the discharge inner tube 2 into the atmospheric insulation layer 3; layer 3
The heat that is convected and transmitted in the axial direction and tries to escape to the outside from between the axial end of the discharge inner tube 2 and the vacuum jacket 1 hits the heat reflecting mirror surface 15c of the heat reflecting plate 15 and It is reflected into the atmospheric insulation layer 3. In this manner, the heat radiated from the discharge inner tube 2 is reflected by the heat reflecting plate 15, thereby efficiently preventing heat loss from the discharge inner tube 2 in the axial direction. Note that the heat reflecting plate 15 in each of the above embodiments is not limited to being divided into two parts, but may be composed of a plurality of parts or an integral ring.

【Effect of the invention】

As described above, according to the present invention, the axial end of the atmospheric heat insulating layer filled between the vacuum jacket and the discharge inner tube is replaced by a heat reflection layer provided between the vacuum jacket and the discharge inner tube. Since it is covered with a plate, the loss of heat radiated from the discharge inner tube into the atmospheric insulation layer and radiated in the axial direction within the atmospheric insulation layer can be efficiently reduced by the heat reflection plate, This has the effect of improving laser efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a metal vapor laser device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a heat reflecting plate, Fig. 3 is a front view of the heat reflecting plate, and Fig. 4 is a conventional metal vapor laser device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a laser device. ■...Vacuum jacket, 2...Discharge inner tube, 3...
Atmospheric heat insulation layer, 4... Metal particles, 5... Cathode (electrode),
9... Anode (electrode), 15... Heat reflecting plate. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts. Patent applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Figure 1 Figure 4 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 5 11;

Claims (1)

[Claims] a vacuum jacket having a vacuum layer; an inner discharge tube inserted into the vacuum jacket and containing metal grains for generating metal vapor and arranged between electrodes; and the inner discharge tube inside the vacuum jacket. In a metal vapor laser device comprising an atmospheric heat insulating layer filled between the vacuum jacket and the discharge inner tube at an axial end of the atmospheric heat insulating layer, a space is defined between the vacuum jacket and the discharge inner tube. A metal vapor laser device characterized by being provided with a heat-resistant and insulating heat reflecting plate that closes.