Need help with old laser.

[ipwnin3D]

I originally posted a help request on reddit, they redirected me to here, hopefully you guys can help me.

I found this old laser in my closet, and was wondering how it works.(Specs, etc) I'm aware this is a VERY old laser, but I would love greatly if anyone can help me. I cannot find much of anything about it anywhere, besides my reddit post. I understand this is a low power HeNe laser?
Anyone know how I can get this thing once again functioning? Like, does anyone know anything about what model or series this MAY be?

Here are photos:

[swamidog]

what you have there is an old HeNe (helium neon) laser tube.

assuming it's still good, you'll have no problem finding a psu to drive it. if it's not good, and you're interested in having a working one, ebay is full of them for not very much money.

HeNe lasers are beautiful and elegant and fairly low power (typically <5mW) with a red beam (632.8 nm). they were my first lasers and i'm very fond of them.

I originally posted a help request on reddit, they redirected me to here, hopefully you guys can help me.

I found this old laser in my closet, and was wondering how it works.(Specs, etc) I'm aware this is a VERY old laser, but I would love greatly if anyone can help me. I cannot find much of anything about it anywhere, besides my reddit post. I understand this is a low power HeNe laser?
Anyone know how I can get this thing once again functioning? Like, does anyone know anything about what model or series this MAY be?

Here are photos:

[Eidetic]

It's not THAT old! Anyway, it was made by the company that made laser target designators for police and consumers (gun pointers), and probably still works.

[ipwnin3D]

Thank you for your help guys, I looked on ebay, but I'm not sure what to buy, can anyone take the time for me to find a good laser power supply that I can just plug into my house and have the laser working? Or is it more complicated than that?

[absolom7691]

You'll need a ballast resistor on the anode of the laser tube. 75K~100K if memory serves.

[142laser]

The length of the tube will indicate the approximate supply voltage and approximate current for the supply module; check out Sam's Laser FAQ... Best, Phil

[Vidal Wolf]

Looks like a Melles-Griot custom or special made tube.

[buffo]

Thank you for your help guys, I looked on ebay, but I'm not sure what to buy, can anyone take the time for me to find a good laser power supply that I can just plug into my house and have the laser working? Or is it more complicated than that?

If you want one that plugs into the wall, it will be a bit more expensive. But if you have a 5 volt DC power supply that can deliver at least 1.5 amps, then this little unit should be enough to power your tube.

Adam

[SoulFeast]

I would need to look back through old HP/Agilent tubes, but based on the spring, I have a hunch that it may be one of the old stabilized lasers. Perhaps a prototype.

The spring on the bore is used to stabilize, and isolate the bore so that frequency remains the same even under tube expansion from heat.

[142laser]

It is not a stabilized laser tube. The spring is the connection to the cathode I believe. Phil