Making an argon laser?

Rasel · Feb 2, 2008

I've decided to team up with my Chem. teacher and we wanted to attempt to build an argon laser.

Most important, I need difficulty and possible cost and danger (during building, not from the laser when it's on). If that is all okay, I need a ton of resources on how to do this.

I realize that I might be getting in over my head, but I'm a smart guy. I chose argon because a blue laser would be AMAZING. If you guys have a suggestion for a better starting gas laser like HeNe, I'm open to ideas. Still do the process above.

If I were reading this post, I would get the impression that I'm a complete noob to lasers but don't worry. I've been having fun with lasers for over a year now. I have a 355mW greenie I got from pseudo in October and I had a WL Fusion before that. I know about construction of DPSS lasers but virtually nothing about gas ones. I intend to do a hell of a lot of research before I do ANYTHING. Please use the "big words" so that I can have a chance to learn them asap.

desslok · Feb 2, 2008

Maybe you should expand on what you mean by "build" one. You mean buy the seperate parts on ebay and hook them up? Or which parts are you physically going to make?

Rasel · Feb 2, 2008

K, build meaning get the parts and put them together. Manifestation would be cool but yeah, we might be looking at eBay or another seller.

I was thinking get a glass tube, fill it with pure argon, put some wierd things inside that makes the argon lase, and attach them to the PSU... lol something along those lines. Anything easier than that kind of seems like it would be cheating ;D.

Either way though, I still want to learn everything involved with the process.

BlueFusion · Feb 2, 2008

Not something at all that can be DIY'ed frankly... it's kinda like making a fluorescent lamp tube, but you need special reflectors at both ends and a whole lotta other shit.

Switch · Feb 2, 2008

How about an N[sub]2[/sub] laser?

I mean sure, those "air lasers" are ridiculously easy to build, but making a good one that uses pure nitrogen might be a chalenge

Benm · Feb 2, 2008

A nitrogen laser would be more feasible indeed, but that'll teach you little about constructing lasers in general. Nitrogen lasers are superradiant and do not require mirrors of any kind, the difficulty is constructing a cavity with electrodes along its (long) sides, and coming up with a power supply to quickly 'spark' the whole cavity at once. It's no easy feat to make a good one, but its construction is very different from other gas lasers (CO2, HeNe, Ar).

Cyparagon · Feb 2, 2008

Rasel said:
I was thinking get a glass tube, fill it with pure argon, put some wierd things inside that makes the argon lase, and attach them to the PSU.

Even if you did get it to lase, it would blow up for sure. Even the low power argons need tubes capable of dissipating up to 1kW of heat so special ceramic tubes are used. Glass just won't cut the mustard.

You probably want to start with HeNe or nitrogen if you insist on a gas laser.

knimrod · Feb 2, 2008

A DIY Argon Ion Laser is not out of the question but it's definitely not something for the novice.

I started a home-built Argon laser many years ago but never finished it. I still have the plans for it. If you like, I could scan them for you. It's based off the DIY Argon Laser published in the "Amateur Scientist" and the "Light and its Uses" book.

Rasel · Feb 2, 2008

Yea but doesn't nitrogen lase at the 337nm wavelength? I would like something on the visible end of the spectrum...

So how about HeNe? What are the difficulties in building one of those?

MarioMaster · Feb 2, 2008

yeah sorry rasel but not only do you need a precision made and high vacuum pumped tube but you need a high voltage high current power supply as well. Think 10 amps at 120v

knimrod · Feb 2, 2008

Rasel said:
So how about HeNe? What are the difficulties in building one of those?

Probably more difficult than the argon. The HeNe gas and vacuum system will be more critical in the HeNe.

Rasel · Feb 3, 2008

Well... would you recommend anything as a good laser project? Besides ripping a LD from a DVD burner...

knimrod · Feb 3, 2008

As someone mentioned above, the nitrogen laser is very easy.. You can even add a cuvette of dye to make a visible dye laser add-on. Search youtube for "dye laser". Your chem. teacher should like that..

Benm · Feb 3, 2008

The nitrogen laser is UV, but the wavelength will cause fluorescense in many materials the dot can be on, also wallpaper or paint. The beam itself will remain invisible for any pratical purposes however.

pseudonomen137 · Feb 3, 2008

Yeah, free air nitrogen would be a better start. If you're really adventurous, perhaps a HeNe. As said above an argon isn't really impossible, but you'll find its damn near it. The cost of the equpiment alone, if you don't already have it, will be overwhelming and since argon lasers are very low gain, you need nearly perfect conditions (IE mirror choice/alignment) to even see any output at all. I hate to be such a downer and discourage the DIYer, but this type of thing really ain't a project you can DIY.

Search around on the web about free air nitrogen lasers though. There are a few guides across the web. Not as impressive as an argon by any means, but a heck of a lot easier.

desslok · Feb 3, 2008

Does it ave to be gas? What about a YAG? the parts seem to be easily obtainable on ebay at least....

Making an argon laser?

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