Improved sealed-off RF excited CO2 lasers and method of manufacturing such lasers

摘要

A method is disclosed for manufacturing a sealed-off RF excited CO₂ laser with a longer operating life. The invention, which relates to the method and the resulting laser, comprises means for stabilizing the laser gas chemistry otherwise affected by C0₂ dissociation, O₂ consumption, and outgassing of H₂ and H₂0. More specifically, the aluminum housing of the laser assembly is nickel-plated and then passivated by an oxidation technique using concentrated nitric acid. In addition, novel gettering substances, comprising either a group B metal or cellulose, are employed to adsorb hyd- rogen and/or water vapor to alleviate the outgassing problem.