Gas laser

Gas laser - This is a laser containing a gaseous substance in a glass tube, which has low pressure, creating an active medium. The tube is located between two mirrors, through which the laser beam is emitted. The mirrors must be adjusted so that the light beams are parallel to the axis. The gas mixture is excited by various types of electrical discharge in the gases.

Peculiarities gas laser are determined by the value of the properties of the active medium, since its density can vary widely, but is much less than that of a condensed medium.

The energy spectrum of a gas corresponds to the energy level of individual particles, since, unlike solid matter, gas particles interact with each other exclusively through collisions during thermal motion. Therefore, the gaseous active medium is predominantly transparent and has narrow absorption and emission lines. This laser makes it possible to obtain extremely narrow, yet fairly stable, generation lines.

Gas laser Gas lasers can operate in both continuous and pulsed modes. These modes themselves differ in their characteristics. The excitation mode of the active medium of a gas laser is classified as gas-discharge, optically excited, charged-particle excited, chemical, and gas-dynamic. The types of transitions that excite gas laser generation include ion lasers, molecular lasers, and excimer lasers. What particularly characterizes the properties of laser radiation is its high directivity and monochromaticity, as well as its ability to operate in continuous mode.

Today is the most practical gas laser - This is a high-frequency discharge CO2 slit lamp. It differs significantly from carbon dioxide in its pulsed emission mode. This type of radiation produces a pulsed light flux with a frequency of 10–20 kHz.  Gas laser They mark a wide range of products and materials with excellent quality, both on hard and soft materials. Hard materials include aluminum, metals, metal alloys, ceramics, glass, and hard plastics. Soft materials can be organic—paper, wood, acrylic, rubber, leather, fabric, and cardboard. CO2 lasers are widely used for cutting almost any metal or non-metal. For cutting metals, a power level of at least 500 W is required, while for cutting non-ferrous materials, a power level of at least 1000 W is required, and sometimes even more. Using this type of laser delicately reduces the width of the seam and improves the quality. Pulsed lasers can also cut steel, titanium, and even softer aluminum alloys.

Depending on their chemical composition, copper-based alloys can be cut. These lasers are also used for engraving. There are laser machines that cut wood and plywood. Although these materials are relatively soft, working with them is challenging and requires a high level of skill. Cutting plywood and wood is currently considered one of the most efficient and precise processing methods.