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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

unknown University Laboratories "Lasertron" gas laser

Volvodoc01

Volvodoc01

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Hi all, I'm new to lpf, and was hoping someone that has been around gas lasers might be able to shine some light on what this laser is....:huh:

On the lower (near anode end on a normal hene)bottom there is green silk screen lettering "University Laboratories Lasertron 6658". As you can see it has odd anode and cathode locations. There was a wire going from one 'side anode' to the other. Cathode is on the top left.And it has a output coupler with a angled mirror (if I understand this laser, anyway) I do believe it to be a hene of some sort, and older than me im sure.. Not sure on the color output as I havent been able to get it to lase(I used a power supply from a 3mw hene), and im sure seals are shot/gas leaked out (all looks well, and rather solid).Ive looked all over the internet, and searched LPF to no advail. Also wondering if this laser is worth fixing? Or leave it as a cool looking paper weight? lol
Thanks!
 

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R

Roam

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The electrode configuration is normal, many discharge tubes especially some older gas lasers looked like this. When you connected the power supply did you manage to get the plasma started inside the tubing? If so what colour was it? If you had the plasma going but no lasing, it could be the case that the laser is an IR. Because Helium–Neon has lots of transitions in the infrared and mid-infrared (but 3 main lines).
 
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Volvodoc01

Volvodoc01

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I tried in the past for a brief few seconds to power it with a 2.4kv dc mellies-groit (spelling?) 3mw HeNe power supply with no plasma if I remember right. I'm going to try powering it again shortly, and leave it powered a bit longer. Thanks for the replies!
 
Cyparagon

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Put it near a plasma ball and look for a glow. Look down the bore through both of the mirrors - what color do they pass?
 
Volvodoc01

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I re tried applying power to it..not so much of a fart of plasma, but im thinking the 1.4-1.8 kv .0028a is no where enough power (it was for a .2 HeNe, not 2mw) .

I will try putting it next to my 1.2mw HeNe as its lasing and see what color comes out of the univ. lab. laser. had no idea anything like that would work! of course after thinking about HeNe operation, makes good sense.
 
Cyparagon

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No, it needs to be a plasma ball or something else that uses high frequency high voltage AC. HeNes use DC so it won't excite a tube next to it - there's no way for the energy to couple.
 
Volvodoc01

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Ah, ok..I get it now..somewhere in the basement I have ther 'original' eye of the storm plasma ball, variable power/frequency.woo :evil:
 
hakzaw1

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or you can send your pic to Sam- he knows- the guy at PeeLee would know too but -- he is... kinda.... hmm- different from the rest of us- to put it nicely.

you have already heard back from two of the best sited to answer at LPF- Dave and Cyp. but give this thread some time and you may hear from some others. my only suggestion(aside from Dr Sam) was already given to you-the Plasma ball- I, also have two of those that you mentioned but never tried to use it to excite a HeNe. They do look like the same thing, but flat, so yeah.. that should tell you something --if it glows.
I will post your pic and thread in the laser forum that Sam occasionaly goes to.

hak
 
MarioMaster

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This tube looks like an early Helium Neon laser. It looks like it uses electrodes similar in design to a neon sign (don't connect it to a neon sign transformer though)

If the tube is soft sealed with epoxy it is unlikely that it will lase. The helium tends to leak out but it might look cool if you can get it to energize =P

The angled mirror you mentioned is likely a brewster window. The tube would then require mounting in a resonator with external mirrors (and correct gas mixture) to get it to lase.
 
hakzaw1

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good advice and info MM- gotta give you a +3 for that!!


** to the OP

OR... you could make a bong from it-
J/K lol
 
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Volvodoc01

Volvodoc01

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MarioMaster said:
This tube looks like an early Helium Neon laser. It looks like it uses electrodes similar in design to a neon sign (don't connect it to a neon sign transformer though)

If the tube is soft sealed with epoxy it is unlikely that it will lase. The helium tends to leak out but it might look cool if you can get it to energize =P

The angled mirror you mentioned is likely a brewster window. The tube would then require mounting in a resonator with external mirrors (and correct gas mixture) to get it to lase.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I believe I found the original power supply for this laser, circuit board cracked in half, but salvageable (assuming capacitors decent yet). A friend of my dads gave me a bunch of HeNe lasers, most long dead, 4mw or smaller. This one has incrediblely solid expoxy, but darn HeNe molecules gota be tiny ;)
 
Volvodoc01

Volvodoc01

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:yabbmad:
hakzaw1 said:
** to the OP

OR... you could make a bong from it-
J/K lol
Click to expand...

Funny, that's what my wife thought it was! LOL. I'll stick to laser diodes, been focused on building a ~300mw 532nm green, 2watt 808nm pumped :D
 
hakzaw1

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Good Luck with your 532 project- we have a few great members living not too terribly far from you and there has been talk of holding a GreatLakes LEM.(GLLEM)
Of course you could start planning now to get a carpool going and make it to 'Lazerpaloola'- 'Lasercom'- 'Laserstock' aka SELEM< google that and see the vids on LEMs at youtube. I have a feeler for riders from Tx already at the lasershow forum (even tho its ~7 months away)- 17 hour drive to NC is a bitch when done solo-- I know this for sure..
 
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Volvodoc01

Volvodoc01

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hakzaw1 said:
Good Luck with your 532 project- we have a few great members living not too terribly far from you and there has been talk of holding a GreatLakes LEM.(GLLEM)
Of course you could start planning now to get a carpool going and make it to 'Lazerpaloola'- 'Lasercom'- 'Laserstock' aka SELEM< google that and see the vids on LEMs at youtube. I have a feeler for riders from Tx already at the lasershow forum (even tho its ~7 months away)- 17 hour drive to NC is a bitch when done solo-- I know this for sure..
Click to expand...

Sounds cool! I'll have to look that up. Sounds real close to a ham fest that amateur radio operators have (of course not quite as visually appealing ,lol).

Learning about dpss 532nm as I go... Found out diode polarity makes a difference! :eek:
 
hakzaw1

hakzaw1

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my rule -- when in doubt dont even guess unless you are sure the laser/driver has reverse polarity protection-- like ALL Jetlasers.

I just blew out the diode in a sweet 445 cajun lasers pen build by Moh- he told me it was neg to the end-- in a facebook chat but I had forgot and broke my own rule-- anybody want to fix it for me??
 
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