Multilayer electrode assembly

1. A multilayer electrode assembly comprising:

a first dielectric material having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the first dielectric material is shaped so as to form a channel defined by the interior surface; and

a layered structure comprising:

a first metal layer disposed adjacent to a first portion of the exterior surface of the first dielectric material; and

a second metal layer disposed adjacent to a second portion of the exterior surface of the first dielectric material, wherein the first metal layer is disposed in a first spaced relationship with the second metal layer in the layered structure;

wherein an electric field is generated in the channel of the first dielectric material when a voltage is applied to the multilayer electrode assembly by a drive electrode.

2. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electric field generated in the channel of the first dielectric material when the voltage is applied to the multilayer electrode assembly by the drive electrode has a uniformity of at least 80%.

3. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electric field generated in the channel of the first dielectric material when the voltage is applied to the multilayer electrode assembly by the drive electrode has a uniformity of at least 90%.

4. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electric field generated in the channel of the first dielectric material when the voltage is applied to the multilayer electrode assembly by the drive electrode has a uniformity of at least 95%.

5. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third metal layer disposed adjacent to a third portion of the exterior surface of the first dielectric material, wherein the third metal layer is disposed in a second spaced relationship with the second metal layer;

a first dielectric layer disposed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer; and

a second dielectric layer disposed between the second metal layer and the third metal layer.

6. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first metal layer is parallel to the second metal layer such that the first metal layer is uniformly spaced from the second metal layer.

7. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third metal layer disposed adjacent to a third portion of the exterior surface of the first dielectric material, wherein the third metal layer is disposed in a second spaced relationship with the second metal layer in the layered structure, wherein the first metal layer is uniformly spaced from the second metal layer and the second metal layer is uniformly spaced from the third metal layer, resulting in a first capacitance between the first metal layer and the second metal layer and a second capacitance between the second metal layer and the third metal layer when the voltage is applied to the multilayer electrode assembly, wherein the first capacitance and the second capacitance are equal to within +/−10%.

8. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third metal layer disposed adjacent to a third portion of the exterior surface of the first dielectric material, wherein the third metal layer is disposed in a second spaced relationship with the second metal layer in the layered structure;

wherein:

the first dielectric material is formed into a tube-like shape with a circular or elliptical cross section; and

the first metal layer, the second metal layer, and the third metal layer are arranged radially around the exterior surface of the first dielectric material such that there is an angle θ between the first metal layer and second metal layer and between the second metal layer and the third metal layer in the layered structure.

9. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein a capacitance between the first metal layer and the second metal layer is C n+1 when the voltage is applied to the multilayer electrode assembly, where

C

n

+

1

:=

C

n

⁡

(

y

n

-

y

n

-

1

y

n

+

1

-

y

n

)

,

where n represents an index of each metal layer and y represents a position of a particular metal layer on the exterior surface of the first dielectric material.

10. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a capacitor disposed between and electrically coupled to the first metal layer and the second metal layer, wherein a capacitance of the capacitor is C n+1 , where

C

n

+

1

:=

C

n

⁡

(

y

n

-

y

n

-

1

y

n

+

1

-

y

n

)

,

 where n represents an index of each metal layer and y represents a position of a particular metal layer on the exterior surface of the first dielectric material.

11. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the first dielectric material is formed into a tube-like shape with a circular or elliptical cross section; and

a first length of the first metal layer in a first direction extending away from the first portion of the exterior surface is approximately equal to a second length of the second metal layer in the first direction extending away from the second portion of the exterior surface, wherein a first distal end of the first metal layer extends further from a center point of the channel relative to a second distal end of the second metal layer.

12. A laser system comprising:

a power source;

a drive electrode configured in electrical communication with the power source;

a dielectric tube having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the dielectric tube is shaped so as to form a channel defined by the interior surface;

a mirror mount positioned at an end of the dielectric tube; and

a layered structure comprising:

a first metal layer disposed adjacent to a first portion of the exterior surface of the dielectric tube; and

a second metal layer disposed adjacent to a second portion of the exterior surface of the dielectric tube, wherein the first metal layer is disposed in a first spaced relationship with the second metal layer in the layered structure;

wherein an electric field with a uniformity of greater than 85% is generated in the channel of the dielectric tube when a voltage is applied to the drive electrode by the power source.

13. The laser system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a third metal layer disposed adjacent to a third portion of the exterior surface of the dielectric tube, wherein the third metal layer is disposed in a second spaced relationship with the second metal layer in the layered structure;

a first dielectric layer disposed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer; and

a second dielectric layer disposed between the second metal layer and the third metal layer.

14. The laser system of claim 12 , wherein the first metal layer is parallel to the second metal layer such that the first metal layer is uniformly spaced from the second metal layer in the layered structure.

15. The laser system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a third metal layer disposed adjacent to a third portion of the exterior surface of the dielectric tube, wherein the third metal layer is disposed in a second spaced relationship with the second metal layer in the layered structure, wherein the first metal layer is uniformly spaced from the second metal layer and the second metal layer is uniformly spaced from the third metal layer in the layered structure, resulting in a first capacitance between the first metal layer and the second metal layer and a second capacitance between the second metal layer and the third metal layer when the voltage is applied to the drive electrode, wherein the first capacitance and the second capacitance are equal to within +/−10%.

16. The laser system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a third metal layer disposed adjacent to a third portion of the exterior surface of the dielectric tube, wherein the third metal layer is disposed in a second spaced relationship with the second metal layer in the layered structure;

wherein:

the dielectric tube comprises a circular or elliptical cross section; and

the first metal layer, the second metal layer, and the third metal layer are arranged radially around the exterior surface of the dielectric tube such that there is an angle θ between the first metal layer and second metal layer and between the second metal layer and the third metal layer in the layered structure.

17. The laser system of claim 12 , wherein a capacitance between the first metal layer and the second metal layer is C n+1 when the voltage is applied to the laser system, where

C

n

+

1

:=

C

n

⁡

(

y

n

-

y

n

-

1

y

n

+

1

-

y

n

)

,

where n represents an index of each metal layer and y represents a position of a particular metal layer on the exterior surface of the dielectric tube.

18. The laser system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a capacitor disposed between and electrically coupled to the first metal layer and the second metal layer, wherein a capacitance of the capacitor is C n+1 , where

C

n

+

1

:=

C

n

⁡

(

y

n

-

y

n

-

1

y

n

+

1

-

y

n

)

,

 where n represents an index of each metal layer and y represents a position of a particular metal layer on the exterior surface of the dielectric tube.

19. The laser system of claim 12 , wherein:

the dielectric tube comprises a circular or elliptical cross section; and

a first length of the first metal layer in a first direction extending away from the first portion of the exterior surface is approximately equal to a second length of the second metal layer in the first direction extending away from the second portion of the exterior surface, wherein a first distal end of the first metal layer extends further from a center point of the channel relative to a second distal end of the second metal layer.

20. A method of generating an electric field, comprising:

applying a voltage to a drive electrode of a multilayer electrode assembly, wherein the multilayer electrode assembly comprises:

a first dielectric material having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the first dielectric material is shaped so as to form a channel defined by the interior surface; and

a layered structure comprising:

a first metal layer disposed adjacent to a first portion of the exterior surface of the first dielectric material;

a second metal layer disposed adjacent to a second portion of the exterior surface of the first dielectric material, wherein the first metal layer is disposed in a first spaced relationship with the second metal layer in the layered structure; and

a third metal layer disposed adjacent to a third portion of the exterior surface of the first dielectric material, wherein the third metal layer is disposed in a second spaced relationship with the second metal layer in the layered structure, wherein the voltage is effective to produce a first capacitance between the first metal layer and the second metal layer and a second capacitance between the second metal layer and the third metal layer.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the first capacitance and the second capacitance are equal to within +/−10%.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

pumping a gas into the channel of the first dielectric material such that a pressure inside the channel is between about 10 and 300 torr; and

emitting a continuous wave laser from the channel.

23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

pumping a gas into the channel of the first dielectric material such that a pressure inside the channel is between about 300 and 760 torr; and

emitting a pulsed laser from the channel.

24. The multilayer electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the first metal layer comprises a first metal plate in the layered structure; and

the second metal layer comprises a second metal plate in the layered structure.