Check your gas-handling system to maximize laser performance

Gas purity is a key factor in optimizr ing excirner and carbon dioxide laser performance. Gas impurities in these laser systems degrade beam profiles, reduce output powers, and shorten laser lifetimes. Much has already been done to reduce impurities-cleaner supply gases are now available, and laser systems are being conshucted of materials that produce significantly lower amounts of gas impurities. But a source of gas impurities that is often overlooked is the gas-distribution system a user constructs to connect a laser to its gas supply. This source of impurities is often out of the gas supplier's and laser manufacturer's controL Many gas-laser users have little or no experience with setting up "tightll gasdistribution systems and may compromise laser performance by inadvertently introducing gas impurities into the delivery system. Site preparation guides that most laser-system manufacturers supply cover the basic requirements for an acceptable gas-distribution system. Users should also consult their gas suppliers to ensure that the gas-distribution system is properly designed for optimal laser performance.