Patent US3779669A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3597695A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3597695A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Single-cavity regenerative laser pulse amplifier
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1969-05-23
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-05-23
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for amplifying laser light by multiple passes through a lasing material in a single laser cavity. A single amplifier stage now achieves what has been previously accomplished by several stages. This is accomplished by a switching mechanism which directs a laser beam into and out of the cavity at selected time intervals, thereby enabling amplification of low intensity laser pulses having a time width anywhere in the range of picoseconds to nanoseconds, to energy levels near the damage limit of the optical components of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 James E Swain
- 👤 Frank Rainer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/23; H01S3/2308; H01S3/2325; H01S3/235; H01S3/2358
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said direction changing means comprises a pair of prismlike means positioned adjacent opposite ends of said optical cavity, wherein said polarity rotating means includes a pair of Pockel''s cells positioned adjacent said prismlike means adjacent opposite ends of said optical cavity, and wherein said reflecting means includes a pair of mirrorlike means positioned adjacent said Pockel''s cells at opposite ends of said optical cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said polarity controlling means comprises a pair of control means for changing voltage applied to said Pockel''s cells such that one of said pair of Pockel''s cells is activated by one of said control means and the other of said Pockel''s cells is deactivated by the other of said control means for switching a laser pulse into said optical cavity, and said one of said Pockel''s cells is deactivated by said one of said control means and said other of said Pockel''s cells is activated by said other of said control means for switching a laser pulse out of said optical cavity after such a pulse has been reflected by said mirrorlike means so as to make at least one pass through said optical cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein said pair of control means each comprise an adjustable voltage pulse delay line means, and wherein said polarity controlling means includes means for activating each of said delay line means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said spark-gap means comprises a power supply means and a spark-gap assembly, and means for actuating said spark-gap assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said spark-gap assembly actuating means includes a beam splitting means which functions to split off a portion of an input laser beam, said split-off beam portion triggering said spark-gap assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5, additionally including means for comparing an input pulse into said cavity means with an output pulse from said optical cavity, said comparing means including a photodiode means and a pair of beam splitter means, one of said beam splitter means functioning to direct a portion of an input pulse to said optical cavity into said photodiode means, the other of said beam splitter means functioning to direct a portion of an output pulse from said optical cavity into said photodiode means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said controlling means for said polarity rotating means comprises a pair of adjustable voltage pulse delay line means, and means for activating each of said delay line means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein said delay line activating means includes a spark-gap assembly, and means for actuating said spark-gap assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein said spark-gap assembly actuating means includes a beam splitting means functioning to slit off a portion of an input laser beam for triggering said spark-gap assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3277392A
Cited
US3243724A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |