Estimation, Optimization, and Performance of Layered Thermal Insulation Structure in a Wide Aperture Gas Discharge Copper Vapour Laser Assembly.

The fundamental design parameters of the thermal insulation of elementary copper vapour laser (CVL) are the same as of its advanced variants, such as the kinetically enhanced CVL. In this paper, the analysis, design, and performance of a novel layered thermal insulation structure with high-density alumina cylinders and low-density alumina fibrous material applied to a high-temperature gas discharge of CVL are presented. An optimized thermal structure based on different composite insulative materials which allows for 1.5 Kw input power reduction per unit assembly, yet maintaining efficient lasing performance, is determined. It is shown that when a multilayer thermal insulation is radially applied over a laser discharge tube, an input power saving over 15% may be achieved, thus leading to improved optical efficiency, compactness, and enhanced life of the laser system. Performance characteristics of a 80-mm bore discharge CVL tube using this thermal insulation configuration are also presented. It was observed that the laser output beam quality was not influenced by the input power saving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]