Although the argon ion laser was not the first laser invented, it has become one of the most popular ion lasers in use today. Invented in 1964 by William Bridges at Hughes Aircraft, the argon ion laser uses, as its name implies, high purity argon gas as the lasing medium. A multi-line argon ion laser can generate up to 18 discrete laser lines (wavelengths) ranging from the UV (275.4nm) to visible green (528.7nm) with the majority of the power being developed at the 488nm and 514.5nm lines. Argon ion lasers are commercially available in a variety of configurations to accommodate a wide variety of applications. Argon lasers may be configured to produce a single laser line only or configured to produce multiple laser lines simultaneously. They may also be fitted with polarizing optics to yield a polarized laser beam. Additionally, argon ion lasers can be manufactured to produce optical power levels ranging from a few milliwatts to power levels exceeding 20 watts. Argon ion lasers are used in a wide variety of applications. These applications include, but are not limited to, Raman Spectroscopy, Microscopy, Flow Cytometry, Holography, Entertainment, Forensics, Ophthalmic Surgery and sources for optical pumping. Argon ion lasers are also used extensively in scientific, research and educational applications. Although advances in laser technology over the years have lead to the development and commercialization of numerous additional laser light sources, the argon ion laser has been, and will continue to be, a predictable and reliable laser light source for many applications.
heat, generated by the plasma discharge within the bore, is readily conducted to the exterior of the BeO bore where it is then removed by means of forced air cooling (low to medium power argon lasers) or flowing water in a water jacket (high power argon lasers).