SEALED-OFF RF EXCITED CO2 LASERS AND THEIR MANUFACTURE

摘要

A method is disclosed for manufacturing a sealed-off RF excited CO.sub. 2 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 CO.sub.2 dissociation, O.sub.2 consumption, and outgassing of H.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O. 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 hydrogen and/or water vapor to alleviate the outgassing problem.