Segmentierte Hohlkathodenentladungen fuer Kupferionenlaser (Segmented Hollow Cathode Discharges for Copper Ion Lasers)

摘要

Effects deviating from the ideal behavior of copper ion lasers were studied. It is shown that segmented hollow cathodes cannot be considered as independent of each other. The effects of impurities (due to leaks) were determined. The experimentally observed effect of cathode deformation due to sputtering on the lifetime was confirmed by a model calculation. Therefore, a laser tube construction with exchangeable cathode segments was designed. Another lifetime-limiting effect, the breakdown of cathode segments by unwanted arc discharges, was drastically reduced by an active current control. The lifetime of the mirrors was improved by a factor 50 using a laser arrangement in ultra high vacuum. As an application of segmented hollow cathode discharges, an amplification determination following the resonator method in the VUV was developed.