US3628181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas discharge lasers
Assignee: NAT RES DEV
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Filing: 1969-12-23
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Granted: 1971-12-14
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Expires: 1989-12-23
Abstract
Abstract Laser apparatus comprises means for producing a laser discharge in a laser active gas, and reflecting means arranged to generate laser action in the gas pumped by the said discharge, the cathode of the said discharge being constituted in operation by a plasma jet. The plasma jet cathode may be provided by producing a subsidiary discharge, and effecting a flow of the laser active gas from the region of the subsidiary discharge towards the region of the laser discharge to form the said plasma jet.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Maitland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/04; H01S3/041; H01S3/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
In apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said producing means includes means for producing a subsidiary discharge, and means for effecting a flow of the laser active gas from the region of the subsidiary discharge towards the region of the laser discharge to form said plasma jet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
In apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for producing the subsidiary discharge includes a subsidiary anode and a subsidiary cathode, and the means for producing the laser discharge includes a laser anode spaced from the subsidiary anode and positioned on the side of the subsidiary anode remote from the subsidiary cathode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
In apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the subsidiary anode is composed of copper and the subsidiary cathode is composed of tungsten, the apparatus being adapted to operate with argon as the laser active gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
In apparatus according to claim 3 including a laser discharge tube in which the first discharge takes place, and a subsidiary discharge chamber in which the subsidiary discharge takes place, the tube and the chamber being in communication with each other, the subsidiary anode being positioned between the tube and the chamber and having an aperture to allow gas to Pass to generate a plasma jet in the discharge tube, the means for effecting the flow of gas including an inlet port in the discharge chamber and an outlet port in the discharge tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
In apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the laser discharge tube defines two gas outlet ports positioned to allow removal of gas from the region of the laser anode and from the region of the plasma jet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
In apparatus according to claim 3 including means for applying between the subsidiary cathode and the subsidiary anode a first unidirectional voltage, and between the subsidiary anode and the laser anode a second unidirectional voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
In apparatus according to claim 3 including means for applying between the subsidiary cathode and the subsidiary anode a first unidirectional voltage, and between the subsidiary cathode and the laser anode a second unidirectional voltage.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of generating a laser output from laser apparatus including a laser discharge tube, a subsidiary cathode, a subsidiary anode and a laser anode spaced from the subsidiary anode including the steps of: effecting a flow of laser active gas from the subsidiary cathode and subsidiary anode to the laser anode, applying a first unidirectional voltage between the subsidiary cathode and the subsidiary anode to strike the subsidiary discharge and produce a plasma jet in the laser discharge tube, and applying a second unidirectional voltage between the subsidiary anode and the laser anode to generate a laser discharge in said discharge tube between the laser anode and the plasma jet cathode.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of generating a laser output from laser apparatus including a laser discharge tube, a subsidiary cathode, a subsidiary anode and a laser anode spaced from the subsidiary anode including the steps of: effecting a flow of laser active gas from the subsidiary cathode and subsidiary anode to the laser anode, applying a first unidirectional voltage between the subsidiary cathode and the subsidiary anode to strike the subsidiary discharge and produce a plasma jet in the laser discharge tube which forms a plasma jet cathode, applying a second unidirectional voltage between the laser anode and the subsidiary cathode to generate a laser discharge between the laser anode and the plasma jet cathode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 10 including the step of reducing the first unidirectional voltage to zero after laser action has commenced.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3458830A
Cited
US3516012A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-13 | 1975-06-14 | 1975-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-13 | 1979-06-14 | 1979-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-13 | 1983-06-14 | 1983-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |