Krypton was studied as a replacement for the 1 tp 5% Xenon additive professionally. . No Go! Decreases power. Same for Argon. I am the one who tried Argon. I could get it to lase, but 50% loss of design power was evil to say the least.
Flowing gas tube does not have the regenerative catalyst materials in the laser bore. If you closely examine a flowing gas tube compared to a RF tube, you will find the structural materials are far cheaper, because you are not reusing the gas. Flowing gas depends on convection in the laser mixture for cooling the tube and optimizing the lasing power. Hot gas or a hotter tube wall, does not lase well. Sealing if off will make you far less power, if it lives long at all.
Concur on the better vacuum, and if you want decent lifetime you either need the 3200$ pinch tool (was 1700$ ten years ago) or a cryo-valve actuator. Cryo is just the brand.
Even the best Swagelok bellows valve is a No-Go for long term operation.
3He:1N2:1C02 +5 % Xe + 1 % H2 plus a trace of H2O Then Co as needed, is a start, but will not give you good steady state power. Each tube design is different and the Helium content is critical. Mixtures are the result of years of R and D, and no two companies use the same mix. For most tubes, this mix is too much He to attain peak power.
Without the catalytic surface, regen agents, and Xenon the laser will fall to 50% of rated power in an hour or less.
You do not want to see what happens if the tube pressure is too low, either. Easy peasy catastrophic failure. I once tore down an SL, it had some very interesting structures in it.
Got Tig? Got RGA? Got Capacitance Manometer.
It is difficult enough mixing two gases for Ion Lasers or HENE, let alone five or six.
For the record, I am well aware of certain Catalyst Free metallic tubes being in existence.
Steve
Last edited by mixedgas; 03-03-2022 at 11:04.
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