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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Helium Neon Showcase! (Pic Heavy)

Joined
Mar 10, 2013
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Hello members of LPF!

I've been scrounging around for a while now for more good gas, and finally have a few things to show off that are a bit rarer than the norm or unique, and wanted to share my find.

first up!
another working SL orange HeNe @ 612nm! This is a retired tube from Melles Griot's R&D dept. It's a 05-LOR-161, and is underspec, possibly a high mileage tube, or maybe the mirrors are just tweaked out of alignment, but for whatever reason it still works, but is outputting only 1.68mW. but hey....I got an orange!

IMG_0765_zps1e003f04.jpg


I also found something very surprising....a like new single brewster tube! This was a rare find that suprised me, and it works flawlessly, however I don't have a mirror mount atm, so I can't show it lasing, but it lights nice and healthy. I've done some hand alignment and with a steady hand I can get red out of it for brief intervals, but for now, its just for display. (keeping the mirror in a sealed capsule, and a red rubber cover that came with it over the window to keep dust off) It is also a Melles Griot tube, with the model 05-LHB-580, which is a 5+mW tube and is of top quality, with an optically contacted brewster window, as opposed to a low-frit-soft-sealed version. making this a hard seal tube, and does not leak/out-gas on any timescale that matters.

IMG_0764_zps01504119.jpg


I've also had this yellow 594.1nm from Meredeth for a while, but I'm going to add it as well, just to complete the 'rare wavelength' HeNe collection on the thread. Its output has grown a bit I think, but I havn't re-measured it at this time, but it was originally doing about 4.1mW

IMG_0767_zps0bc05192.jpg


Thanks for looking! More to come as I have time and money! :beer:
 





Joined
Apr 26, 2010
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Still can't wait to see what comes of that B-tube. That's what I'm over here holding my breath for!

If you don't cavity dump it, or make a tunable, I may just cry.
 
Joined
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Messages
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Still can't wait to see what comes of that B-tube. That's what I'm over here holding my breath for!

If you don't cavity dump it, or make a tunable, I may just cry.

I actually was considering doing both, but I first have to make a stable resonator out of it, and then i'll see what I can pull out of this thing. I've only gotten tons of red out of it atm, and only in flickers since i was using my fingers. I do not know what HR it uses, which is going to in part dictate what it can output. I'm sure i can probably get red, orange, and yellow out of it, but green probably would be a challenge due to it needing a different gas fill. there is another of this model that has a different HR for doing green. but the tube is about 10" mirror to window, so it might be able to squeeze a tiny bit out. I should be able to get decent gain out of a cavity that long. dunno got a spare adjustable mirror mount and rail set bloom? :p
 
Joined
Sep 22, 2010
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Nice! I really want a 612 to fill out my HeNe collection but they're just too pricey for me ATM.
 
Joined
Apr 26, 2010
Messages
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Well I have 8 or 9 mounts, but only 1 rail.

You don't need the rail, though you'd have to realign it everytime, or don't move anything.

The cavity dumping isn't as easy as it sounds. You need some expensive hardware to pull it off.

Though the tunable would be easy. You'd need an additional HR for other lines, a tuning prism (I don't have a spare) and a broadband OC. Those are all easy parts to come by. The hard part is getting the tube (check) and trying to align it with a prism in the cavity. I recommend using a green guide laser and getting that to resonate. A 543 HeNe will do just fine. Then it's simply a matter of rotating the prism.

For the prism, I have an idea in mind using my mounting equipment that would keep it steady. Just make sure you rotate it, but don't move it. That's the crucial part.
 
Joined
Mar 10, 2013
Messages
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very true, as green will penetrate the mirrors. or certain light blue wavelengths. If you have spare parts I'll gladly take one or two, I dont have anything to mount the tube on, or its mirror, so thats my first thing to get, I need mirrors too, I think this has a broadband HR so I just need an OC to match, I have a semi crappy red OC that came with it, so I know it lases, but thats about it. The hunt for parts begins!
 




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