Poking A Hole with a Blast From the Past

[Eidetic]

This afternoon I set up to demonstrate my '62 Hughes Model 200 pulsed ruby laser's operation for a friend. I've previously measured its maximum output at 1.5J, but this time I wanted to see how many "Gillettes" that equalled. Before meters were made to measure pulsed lasers, they were rated in "Gillettes" after the razor blades of the time. Had to use one of that vintage, though, which I found when recently visiting my parents. Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1K1JZ6jhiM

Every time I fire this laser I feel like I'm letting out old light. Is that correct? The light in the flashlamp is generated by old gas. The light stimulated in the ruby rod is created by an old crystal and coupled out of it by an old coating. I realize that old photons come from stars, but there's still something special about it.

[Laser Ben]

That looks awesome Bob! Is this setup going to be a Photonics West this year?

[300EVIL]

Nice work! Can you take some closeup pics of the Ruby head? I wonder how many of those were even made. I have a Hughes M60 tank ruby laser rangefinder myself. I'll have to repost some video of that sometime.
Thanks!
Adam

[Eidetic]

This is a pic of the head with the cover off. I haven't disassembled it further, not wanting to disturb the soldering. The plastic tube seen in the rear section is a nitrogen purge for the cavity.



I spoke with Douglas Buddenhagen who headed the group of about ten at Hughes who built them. He said about a hundred of this model were made, it being the first and smallest, as described in the news article I found for it. This one was used as a resistor trimmer at TI. It's dielectric coatings are on the rod ends, and there's knife switches under the top (which lifts up like a hood) to adjust the capacitance.

[chad]

That is really cool! Thanks for sharing that..

Chad

[daedal]

That is very cool!

I love the beam table setup.

Thanx for sharing;
DDL

[Eidetic]

Thanks for the comments everybody. Here's a picture of the holes being poked. There's six in the blade now, all the same and 180 microns diameter.

[robotarmy]

I love the gillette measurement system, i remember my uncle telling me about it when i was first getting into lasers... Such a good method!

[buffo]

I first read about it in "The Story of the Laser" by John Carol. (published in 1964!)

Out of print these days, but the Amazon link has several used copies available for next to nothing. I bought a copy for my desk several years ago, and I love it. (It was one of the first books about lasers I ever read. We're talking back in 1977 or so!)

Adam

[Doc]

I first read about it in "The Story of the Laser" by John Carol. (published in 1964!)

Out of print these days, but the Amazon link has several used copies available for next to nothing. I bought a copy for my desk several years ago, and I love it. (It was one of the first books about lasers I ever read. We're talking back in 1977 or so!)

Adam

I'm pretty sure I loaned that book from the school library back in the 70's!

I might just buy one for old time's sake.