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HeNe ballast resistor question....

GooeyGus

GooeyGus

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So what is the purpose of the big ballast resistor on HeNe lasers? Is it just to limit the current going to the tube or is there some other purpose I'm missing here??
 





FrothyChimp

FrothyChimp

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Yep, you need something to limit the current when the gas ionizes or it'll keep drawing more and more current because the ionized gas looks like short.
 
Cyparagon

Cyparagon

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While we're on the subject, why aren't HeNe lasers considered ion lasers if the lasing medium is ionized?
 
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