PRE-IRRADIATION IN GAS DISCHARGE LASING DEVICES USING MULTIPLE PRE-IRRADIATION DISCHARGES PER ELECTRICAL FEED-THROUGH

• Main Authors: SERCEL JEFFREY P, JENKET BRUCE R, MASSE DANIEL B, VON DADELSZEN MICHAEL, SERCEL DANA K
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.01.2014
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION; ELECTRICITY

A pre-irradiation system and method may be used in a gas discharge lasing device to provide multiple ultraviolet (UV) pre-irradiation discharges per electrical feed-through into a gas discharge chamber of the lasing device. One or more high-voltage electrical feed-throughs are electrically connected to one or more high-voltage electrodes that provide multiple discharge paths to a current return electrode to allow multiple pre-irradiation discharges per feed-through in response to high-voltage pulses applied via the feed-through(s). The discharge paths may include spark gap discharge paths and/or tracking discharge paths across an insulator. In some embodiments, multiple discharge paths are formed between respective tracking locators on a high voltage electrode and/or a current return electrode. In other embodiments, multiple discharge paths are formed between respective discharge locations on a high voltage electrode surrounded by an insulator, which spark or track to a current return electrode.