Patent US3605038A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3605038A
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Population inversion and gain in molecular gases excited by vibrationally excited hydrogen
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1970-04-30
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1990-04-30
Abstract
Abstract Population inversion and optical gain is obtained from a gaseous mixture which includes vibrationally excited hydrogen, helium, and a polyatomic molecular gas which has a resonant energy level near the first vibrational energy level of hydrogen, and which has allowed transitions to an intermediate vibrational level lying between the resonant level and the ground state. Coherent infrared emission is observed when the gaseous system is excited in a laser system.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis T Byrne
- 👤 F Carl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/036; H01S3/14; H01S3/22; H01S3/223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
22 words
A laser as in claim 1 wherein the polyatomic gas is selected from the group consisting of acetylene, methane, ammonia, and ethylene.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser as in claim 1 wherein the means for exciting the gaseous mixture comprises pulsed excitation means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A laser as in claim 1 further comprising: means for continuously flowing the gaseous mixture at selected partial pressures within the envelope; and cooling means for controlling the temperature of the gaseous mixture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A laser as in claim 4 wherein the polyatomic gas is acetylene and the partial pressures of the hydrogen, acetylene, and helium have the following ranges, respectively: 2 to 4 torr, 1 to 2 torr, and 10 to 20 torr.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A laser as in claim 4 wherein the polyatomic gas is acetylene, the temperature of the cooling means is around 300* K. and the partial pressures of the hydrogen, acetylene, and helium are 2 torr, 1 torr, and between 10 and 20 torr, respectively, thereby to cause laser emission at 8.040 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser as in claim 5 wherein the temperature of the cooling means is around 220* K., thereby to cause laser emission at 8.040 microns.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for inducing population inversion in an envelope containing a gaseous mixture of hydrogen, helium, and a polyatomic molecule which has a resonant energy level near the first metastable state of hydrogen and which has allowed transitions between the resonant energy level and the ground state comprising: exciting the gaseous mixture by electrical energy to raise the hydrogen to its first metastable state, thereby inducing population inversion by vibrationally exciting the polyatomic molecule.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 8 further comprising the steps of: continuously flowing the gaseous mixture within the envelope at selected partial pressures for each gas; and controlling the temperature of the envelope containing the gaseous mixture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein the polyatomic molecule is acetylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein the selected partial pressures of the gases are: 2 torr, between 10 and 20 torr, and 1 torr for hydrogen, helium, and acetylene, respectively; and the temperature of the envelope is around 300* K.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein the selected partial pressure of the gases are: between 2 to 4 torr, between 10 to 20 torr, and between 1 to 2 torr for hydrogen, helium, and acetylene, respectively, and the temperature of the envelope is around 220* K.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3464028A
Cited
US3393372A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |