US3622907A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite oscillator amplifier laser
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1970-01-27
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1990-01-27
Abstract
Abstract Two mirrors forming an optical cavity about an axis through their geometric centers are shaped and positioned to allow regions within the cavity where laser oscillation and amplification can occur. The cavity is formed by a relatively large first mirror having a reflection surface of concave contour and a smaller second mirror having a compound reflection surface of essentially convex contour, the compound mirror having a curved outer reflection surface surrounding a central flat reflection surface. The cavity, filled with a gas of high optical gain, supports electromagnetic energy oscillations between the central surface of the first mirror and the flat surface of the second mirror. A portion of the oscillation energy spills over around the flat surface of the second mirror, is reflected from the adjacent spherical surface as a beam of energy and the beam is amplified in passing back toward the outer surface of the first mirror through a gas medium of high saturation intensity. The amplified beam is reflected from the outer surface of the first mirror, further amplified and finally passed out of the cavity. A spherical as well as a cylindrical geometric embodiment are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Giles Tomlinson
- 👤 Boyce Burdick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/23; H01S3/2308; H01S3/2325; H01S3/2333; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/08; H01S3/08059
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A gas laser comprising: a pair of mirrors forming an optical cavity having an axis; a first one of said mirrors having a concave reflective surface forming one end of the cavity and symmetrically located about said axis; the second one of said mirrors having a compound reflective surface comprising a convex reflective area centered about a central flat reflection area, said second mirror being symmetrically positioned about said axis and forming the other end of the cavity, said flat area being normal to said axis; and said first and second mirrors forming an oscillator region between a central area of said first mirror and said flat area and forming an amplifier region between said convex surface And remaining portions of said first mirror.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A gas laser comprising: a pair of mirrors forming an optical cavity having an axis; a first one of said mirrors having a concave reflective surface forming one end of the cavity and symmetrically located about said axis; the second one of said mirrors having a compound reflective surface comprising a convex reflective area centered about a central flat reflection area, said second mirror being symmetrically positioned about said axis and forming the other end of the cavity, said flat area being normal to said axis; and said first and second mirrors forming an oscillator region between a central area of said first mirror and said flat area and forming an amplifier region between said convex surface And remaining portions of said first mirror.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laser according to claim 1 wherein the second mirror has a central flat surface with a diameter which provides an oscillator Fresnel number of about unity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
A gas laser comprising: a pair of mirrors forming an optical cavity having an axis; the first mirror having a spherical concave reflection surface and forming one end of the cavity and being symmetrically located about said axis; the second mirror having a compound reflective surface comprising a spherical convex reflective area concentric about a central flat reflection area, the second mirror being symmetrically positioned about said axis and forming the other end of the cavity and the flat area being normal to the axis; and the first and second mirrors forming an oscillator region between a central area of the first mirror and the flat area and further forming an amplifier region within the optical cavity and around the oscillator region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
A gas laser comprising: a pair of mirrors forming an optical cavity having an axis; the first mirror having a spherical concave reflection surface and forming one end of the cavity and being symmetrically located about said axis; the second mirror having a compound reflective surface comprising a spherical convex reflective area concentric about a central flat reflection area, the second mirror being symmetrically positioned about said axis and forming the other end of the cavity and the flat area being normal to the axis; and the first and second mirrors forming an oscillator region between a central area of the first mirror and the flat area and further forming an amplifier region within the optical cavity and around the oscillator region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
122 words
A gas laser comprising: a pair of mirrors forming an optical cavity having an axis; a first mirror having a cylindrical concave reflection surface and forming one end of the cavity and symmetrically located about said axis; the second mirror having a compound reflective surface comprising a cylindrical convex reflective area symmetrical about a central flat reflection area, the second mirror being symmetrically positioned about said axis and forming the other end of the cavity and the flat area being normal to the axis; and the first and second mirrors forming an oscillator region between a central area of the first mirror and the flat area and further forming an amplifier region within the optical cavity and external to the oscillator region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
A gas laser comprising: a pair of mirrors forming an optical cavity having an axis; a first mirror having a cylindrical concave reflection surface and forming one end of the cavity and symmetrically located about said axis; the second mirror having a compound reflective surface comprising a cylindrical convex reflective area symmetrical about a central flat reflection area, the second mirror being symmetrically positioned about said axis and forming the other end of the cavity and the flat area being normal to the axis; and the first and second mirrors forming an oscillator region between a central area of the first mirror and the flat area and further forming an amplifier region within the optical cavity and external to the oscillator region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3510796A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |