Abstract:
An electron gun filament support structure in which the electron-emitting filaments are held in place by a plurality of opposing leaf springs. In a preferred embodiment, the springs are mounted on a filament tray, with the leaf of each spring extending substantially perpendicularly to the tray. Each leaf has one or more slots in its upper edge. The arms of each slot curve substantially outwardly from the opposing leaf springs, whereby a filament having enlarged end portions inserted in the slots of opposing leaf springs is held firmly in place under tension. Damaged or destroyed filaments may readily be removed and new filaments inserted by pressing opposed leafs toward each other, removing one filament, inserting another, and releasing the springs.
Abstract:
A gas laser amplifier system having a plurality of pumping chambers spaced around the circumference of a vacuum chamber which has disposed within it an electron gun system which produces a plurality of electron beams. The electron beams are sufficiently energetic and so directed that they produce substantial ionization through the entire volume of gaseous lasing medium that is to be electrically pumped in each pumping chamber. The system is adapted for use with lasing media at atmospheric pressure and above and is particularly useful with He-N2-CO2 gas mixtures.