JPS62104184A - Hollow cathode type metal vapor laser - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate multi-color oscillation by alternately storing different kinds of active metals in many metal protuberances provided in a laser tube, and providing a temperature control unit for each metal protuberance, thereby enabling control to a optimum vapor pressure required for laser oscillation for each active metal. CONSTITUTION:In a metal protuberance 9a Cd 26 is stored, and in a metal protuberance 8b Zn 27 is stored. Further, by a buffer gas supply unit 22, a required gas, e.g. a He gas, is supplied into a laser tube 1. Then, if a required voltage is applied between main anodes 13a-13f and auxiliary electrodes 16a, 16b and a follow cathode 9, negative glow discharge occurs between the main anodes 13a-13f and the cathode 9. At this time, heaters 18 and 18b are independently controlled by metal protuberance temperature control units 19a, 19b, allowing the active metals 26 and 27 stored in the respective metal protuberances 8a and 8b to vapor so that the pressure of each metal vapor in a cathode bore 10 becomes a value required for obtained laser oscillation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The water-low cathode type Kinku Karachi laser of the present invention will be described in accordance with the following items.

A. Industrial field of application B1 Overview of the invention C1 Prior art D. Problem to be solved by the invention E0 Means for solving the problem F. Example a. Outer shell tube [Fig. 1, Fig. 2 ] b. Hollow cathode [Fig. 1, Fig. 2] C0 anode [Fig. 1, Fig. 2] d. Cathode [Fig. 1] e. Temperature control device [Fig. 1] f. Insulator [Fig. g. Buffer gas supply source [Fig. 1] h. Getter supply device [Fig. 1] IO operation G1 Effects of the invention (A. Industrial application field) The present invention is a novel hollow cathode type metal vapor laser. Regarding. Specifically, the present invention aims to provide a novel hollow cathode metal vapor laser that can obtain multi-wavelength oscillation by individually controlling the vapor pressures of a plurality of active metals.

(B. Summary of the Invention) In the hollow cathode metal vapor laser of the present invention, different types of active metals are alternately stored in a large number of metal reservoirs provided in the laser tube, and a metal reservoir temperature control device is used to store different types of active metals. By providing separate metal reservoirs for each active metal, the temperature of each metal reservoir can be controlled individually to achieve the vapor pressure necessary to obtain laser oscillation for each active metal, making it easy to obtain multicolor oscillation. It is possible to provide a hollow cathode metal vapor laser that can be used.

(C, Prior Art) In recent years, various hollow cathode metal vapor lasers using a ten-row immature discharge have been proposed. This type of laser is capable of polychromatic oscillation due to its excitation intensity, and has excellent features not found in liquid lasers or solid-state lasers.

(D. Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a hollow cathode type gold-flexible vapor laser using a plurality of active metals in order to obtain even more multi-colored laser oscillation. It is what was done.

(E. Means for Solving Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the hollow cathode metal vapor laser of the present invention alternately stores different types of active metals in a large number of metal reservoirs provided in the laser tube. However, a metal reservoir temperature control device is provided separately for each metal reservoir storing different types of active metals so that the temperature can be controlled separately for each active metal.

Therefore, according to the hollow cathode metal vapor laser of the present invention, the heating temperature of the metal reservoir containing different types of active metals can be controlled individually, so that the optimum temperature required for laser oscillation is achieved for each active metal. It is possible to control the vapor pressure to a certain level, and it is easy to obtain multicolor oscillation.

(F. Examples) Next, details of the hollow cathode metal vapor laser of the present invention will be explained according to examples illustrated in Figure 6. Reference numeral 1 in Figure 6 is a laser tube.

(a, Outer shell tube) [Figures 1 and 2] 2 is an approximately cylindrical outer shell tube, made of glass, both openings of which are closed by Brewster windows 3.4, and the inside of which is It's airtight 5.5. . . . is the main anode mounting part formed in the center of the outer shell tube 2, and has a shape similar to that of a roughly bowl-shaped body made of the same glass as the material glass of the outer shell tube 2, with the bottom section cut out. 7, and its opening edge is integrally welded to the outer shell tube 2. These main anode mounting parts 5.5. -... are formed at approximately the same pitch.

6.6 is an auxiliary anode mounting part, and main anode mounting part 5.5.
・It is formed at a distance a from the first row to the left and right,
The main anode mounting portions 5.5, . . . are formed in substantially the same manner as the main anode mounting portions 5.5, .

7 is a cathode mounting portion, which is also the same as the anode mounting portion 5.5.
-... and 6.6, and is located approximately at the center of the outer shell tube 2 between the anode mounting portions 5 and 5.

8.8, . . . - are metal reservoirs for storing active metals that are metal vapor generating materials, and are formed by bulging the side wall of the outer shell tube 2 outward into a substantially bowl-like shape. has been done.

These metal reservoirs 8.8 and .O are the main anode mounting portion 5.5.
, with a forming pitch substantially equal to the forming pitch of ,..., and
They are formed with a half-pitch deviation. In addition, among these metal reservoirs 8a, 8@, 8a, − active metal 9, for example,
Cadmium (Cd) is stored, and other active metals such as zinc (Zn) are stored in 8b and 8b.

(b, Hollow cathode) [Figures 1 and 2] 9 is a hollow cathode. The hollow cathode 9 is made of an electrically conductive material and is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, and its center hole serves as a cathode pore IO.

The outer diameter of the hollow cathode 9 is formed to be approximately the same as the inner diameter of the outer shell tube 2, and the hollow cathode 9 is fixed inside the outer shell tube 2 in the shape of a base.

The hollow cathode 9 has the main anode mounting portion 5.5 formed in the outer shell tube 2, the holes 11, ii, -φ, corresponding to the fists, and the metal reservoir 8. Holes 12, 12, Φ and φ corresponding to 8, . . . e are formed.

(c, Anode) [Figures 1 and 2] 13a to 13f are main anodes made of tungsten, molybdenum, etc., and main anode mounting parts 5.5, .・Glass for sealing 14,1
4. It is attached via...

The tips of these main anodes 13a to 13f are connected to holes 11, 11. -... is exposed to the cathode pore 10. Note that the tips of the main anodes 13a to 13f are located slightly outside the position corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the hollow cathode 9.

15, 15, . . . are ring-shaped insulators, which are attached so as to cover the inner peripheral surfaces of the holes 11° 11, -Φ· formed in the hollow cathode 9.

16a and 16b are auxiliary anodes made of tungsten, molybdenum, etc., like the main anode, and the outer shell tube 2
The auxiliary anode mounting portion 6.6 is integrally formed with the auxiliary anode mounting portion 6.6, and is mounted via a sealing ratchet 14.14.

(d, Cathode) [Figure 81] Reference numeral 17 is a cathode wire, which is also made of tungsten, molybdenum, etc., and is attached to the cathode mounting portion 7 via the sealing glass 14 and connected to the hollow cathode 9. .

(e, temperature control device) [Figure 1] 18. 18, ... - are heaters, of which 18
a, 18a, 18a are arranged so as to surround the metal reservoirs 8a, 8a, 8a, and 18b.

18b is arranged so as to surround the metal reservoirs 8b, 8b.

19a, 19b are temperature control devices, 19a is connected to heaters 18a, 18a, 18a, 19b is connected to 18b
, 18b. Therefore, the heater 18a,
18a, 18a are controlled by a temperature control device a 19a, and heaters 18b, 18b are controlled by a temperature control device 19b.

(f, Insulator) [FIG. 1] Reference numeral 20.20 is a cylindrical insulator, which is fixed to both ends of the hollow cathode 9 in a connected manner.

The tip of the insulator 20.20 is connected to the auxiliary anode mounting portion 6.
The inner opening of 6 is about a quarter from the center end of outer shell tube 2.
It is located to the point where it covers the whole area.

21.21 is also a cylindrical metal or insulator, and is fixed to the outer shell tube 2 in an internal fit at the end near the Brewster window 3.4. The inner diameter of the outer shell tube 2 is substantially reduced at this insulator 21.21 portion.

(g, Buffer gas supply source) [Fig. 1] 22 is a supply device for buffer gas, for example, helium (He) gas.

23 is a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the buffer gas in the laser tube l, and when the buffer gas pressure decreases,
The buffer gas pressure control device 24 outputs this information to the buffer gas pressure control device 24, and the buffer gas pressure control device 24
is driven to replenish buffer gas into the laser tube 1 until it reaches an appropriate pressure.

(h. Getter supply device [Fig. 1 25 is a getter supply device for producing a getter film for removing impurities in the laser tube l.

(i, action) metal reservoir 8.8, - fist - has an active metal, e.g. metal reservoir 8
Cadmium (Cd) 26.26.2 for a, 8a, 8a
Zinc (Zn) is stored in the metal reservoirs 8b, 8b.
)27.27 is stored. Furthermore, the buffer gas supply device 22 supplies the required buffer gas,
For example, He gas is supplied.

Therefore, the main anodes 13a to 13f and the auxiliary anode 16a,
When a required voltage is applied between 16b and hollow cathode 9, a negative glow discharge is generated between main anodes 13a to 13f and cathode 9. Then, Cd vapor and Zn vapor are generated by the heat loss of this negative glow discharge and heating of the heater 18, and this is transferred to a higher energy level by excited particles such as He ions, and laser oscillation is started. At this time, the heaters 18a, 18a, 18a and 18b, 18 are controlled by the metal reservoir temperature control devices 19a, 19b.
metal reservoirs 8a, 8a, 8a and 8b,
8b is housed in each active metal 26.26.26
and 27.27 are evaporated so that the pressure of each metal vapor in the cathode bore IO becomes the value necessary to obtain laser oscillation.

Note that the Brewster window 3.
The Cd vapor and Zn vapor that try to head towards the cathode pore 1 are blown back by the auxiliary anodes ai 16a and 16b.
Returned to within 0.

The insulator 21.21 also prevents metal vapors from passing towards the Brewster window 3.4.

Then, as described above, when the He gas pressure within the laser light source decreases, He gas is supplied from the helium gas supply device 22 into the laser tube 1.

In the above He-Cd and Zn lasers, 441.6 am and 533.7 am with respect to Cd.

537.8am, 635.5am, 636.0am
491.2 am and 492.4 am for Zn at each wavelength of
am, 5g9.4am, 602.1am, 610.3a
It was confirmed that laser oscillation of each wavelength of m could be obtained.

Although the above example uses two types of active metals, it is also possible to use three types, for example, Cd, Zn, and Se, or more types of active metals. Of course, in that case, it is natural that the number of metal reservoir temperature control devices be prepared according to the type of active metal to be used, and the plurality of metal reservoirs are arranged in groups according to the number of active metals. Each group is separately controlled by a separate metal reservoir temperature control device.

A device that produces multicolor oscillation as described above is extremely useful as a laser light source for chemical analysis, other measurements, and research.

(G. Effect of the invention) As is clear from the above description, 1. The hollow cathode metal vapor laser of the present invention alternately stores different types of active metals in a large number of metal reservoirs provided in the laser tube, and each The present invention is characterized in that a metal reservoir temperature control device is provided separately for each metal reservoir storing different types of active metals so that the temperature can be controlled individually for each type of active metal.

Therefore, according to the hollow cathode metal vapor laser of the present invention, the heating temperature of the metal reservoir containing different types of active metals can be controlled individually, so that the optimum temperature required for laser oscillation is achieved for each active metal. It is possible to control the vapor pressure to a certain level, and it is easy to obtain multicolor oscillation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an example of the implementation of the hollow cathode metal vapor laser of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 1--2 in FIG. Explanation of symbols l - Φ laser tube, 8a - Φ metal reservoir, 8b...
Metal reservoir, 9... Hollow cathode, 19a... Metal reservoir temperature control device, 19b... Metal reservoir temperature control device, 26... Active metal, 27... Active metal ratio Application
People Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a hollow cathode metal vapor laser that uses a hollow cathode to generate laser light using negative glow discharge, different types of active metals are alternately stored in a number of metal reservoirs provided in the laser tube, and each A hollow cathode metal vapor laser characterized in that a metal reservoir temperature control device is provided separately for each metal reservoir housing a different type of active metal so that the temperature of each active metal can be controlled separately.