Cell for use in a circulating liquid laser

Claim 2

In a laser utilizing a flowing liquid as the active laser material, a cell comprising a. an active region wherein said active laser material is excited to produce a population inversion in and, thereby optical gain therein, said active region having an inlet and an outlet and a longitudinal axis; and b. a liquid flow input chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of said input chamber being coupled to the inlet of said active region; and c. optical means positioned along said axis at each end of said active region for at least coupling laser radiation from said region; and d. a first flow control means transparent at the wavelength region in which the optical gain is produced said first flow control means comprising 1. a cylindrical portion, and 2. a frusto-conical portion joined to one end of said cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion and said frustoconical portion having a common longitudinal axis, said flow control means positioned in said input chamber coaxially with the longitudinal axis of said active region.

Claim 3

a frusto-conical portion joined to one end of said cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion and said frusto-conical portion having a common longitudinal axis, said flow control means positioned in said input chamber coaxially with the longitudinal axis of said active region.

Claim 4

a frusto-conical portion joined to one end of said cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion and said frusto-conical portion having a common longitudinal axis, said flow control means positioned in said input chamber coaxially with the longitudinal axis of said active region.

Claim 5

The cell of claim 1 wherein said frusto-conical portion of said first flow control means is positioned adjacent the inlet of said active region thereby forming a transition region between the input chamber and the active region, the volume flow rate of the active material through said transition region being equal in magnitude to the volume flow rate of active material through said active region.

Claim 6

a frusto-conical portion having a first and a second base, said first base having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical potion of said flow control means and being greater than the diameter of said second base, said first base of said frusto-conical portion joined to said cylindrical portion thereby forming said flow control means having a common longitudinal axis, said first and second flow control means positioned coaxially within said input and output chambers respectively with said second base of said frusto-conical portions adjacent to said active region.

Claim 7

a frusto-conical portion having a first and a second base, said first base having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical potion of said flow control means and being greater than the diameter of said second base, said first base of said frusto-conical portion joined to said cylindrical portion thereby forming said flow control means having a common longitudinal axis, said first and second flow control means positioned coaxially within said input and output chambers respectively with said second base of said frusto-conical portions adjacent to said active region.

Claim 8

The cell of claim 2 further comprising a. an output chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said output chamber being coupled to the outlet of said active region; and b. second flow control means transparent at the wavelength of the excited photons and having a longitudinal axis, said second flow control means being positioned within said output chamber with the longitudinal axis of said second flow control means coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said active region, said second flow control means separating said stream of photons and said active material in said output chamber.

Claim 9

In a laser utilizing a flowing liquid as the active material, a cell comprising: a. an active region wherein said active material is excited to produce a population inversion and, thereby, optical gain therein said active region being in the form of an elongated hollow cylinder having an inlet and an outlet and a longitudinal axis; and b. input and output chambers in the form of cylinders, each of said chambers having an inlet anD an outlet, said chambers being positioned coaxially adjacent the inlet and outlet respectively of said active region; and c. first and second flow control means, each of said flow control means comprising:

Claim 10

In a laser utilizing a flowing liquid as the active material, a cell comprising: a. an active region wherein said active material is excited to produce a population inversion and, thereby, optical gain therein said active region being in the form of an elongated hollow cylinder having an inlet and an outlet and a longitudinal axis; and b. input and output chambers in the form of cylinders, each of said chambers having an inlet anD an outlet, said chambers being positioned coaxially adjacent the inlet and outlet respectively of said active region; and c. first and second flow control means, each of said flow control means comprising:

Claim 11

A laser utilizing a flowing liquid as the active material, comprising: a. a cell having an active region in the form of an elongated hollow cylinder and cylindrically shaped input and output chambers positioned coaxially adjacent the opposite ends of said active region, said input and output chambers each having a port therein; and b. first and second flow control means, each of said flow control means comprising a cylindrical portion and a frusto-conical portion, said frusto-conical portion having a first and second base, said first base having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical portion and being greater than the diameter of said second base, said first base of said frusto-conical portion joined to said cylindrical portion thereby forming said flow control means, said flow control means having a common longitudinal axis, said first and second flow control means positioned coaxially within said input and output chambers respectively with said second bases of said frusto-conical portions adjacent to said active region; and c. optical means positioned along said axis at each end of said active region for at least coupling laser radiation from said region; and d. a light pump optically coupled to said active region, said light pump being actuated to provide energy to the active material in said active region to produce a population inversion and, thereby, optical gain therein; e. pump means having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of said pump means being coupled to the port in said input chamber of said cell, said pump means causing said liquid active material to flow in said laser.

Claim 12

A laser utilizing a flowing liquid as the active material, comprising: a. a cell having an active region in the form of an elongated hollow cylinder and cylindrically shaped input and output chambers positioned coaxially adjacent the opposite ends of said active region, said input and output chambers each having a port therein; and b. first and second flow control means, each of said flow control means comprising a cylindrical portion and a frusto-conical portion, said frusto-conical portion having a first and second base, said first base having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical portion and being greater than the diameter of said second base, said first base of said frusto-conical portion joined to said cylindrical portion thereby forming said flow control means, said flow control means having a common longitudinal axis, said first and second flow control means positioned coaxially within said input and output chambers respectively with said second bases of said frusto-conical portions adjacent to said active region; and c. optical means positioned along said axis at each end of said active region for at least coupling laser radiation from said region; and d. a light pump optically coupled to said active region, said light pump being actuated to provide energy to the active material in said active region to produce a population inversion and, thereby, optical gain therein; e. pump means having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of said pump means being coupled to the port in said input chamber of said cell, said pump means causing said liquid active material to flow in said laser.

Claim 13

The laser of claim 5 further comprising a heat exchange means having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said heat exchange means being coupled to the port in said output chamber and the outlet of said heat exchange means being coupled to the inlet of said pump means thereby forming a closed loop for circulating the liquid active material in said laser.

Claim 14

The cell of claim 13 wherein said frusto-conical portion has a first and a second base, said first base having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical portion of said flow control means and being greater than the diameter of said second base, said first base of said frusto-conical portion joined to said cylindrical portion thereby forming said flow control means, said flow control means having a common longitudinal axis, said flow control means positioned within said input chamber coaxially with the longitudinal axis of said active region with said second base of said frusto-conical portion adjacent to said active region.

Claim 15

The cell of claim 7 further comprising an input port coupled to the inlet of said input chamber, said liquid active material entering said input chamber through said input port, said frusto-conical portion of said flow control means positioned adjacent to said active region thereby forming a transition region therebetween, the cross-sectional area of said input port, the cross sectional area of said active region and the surface area of said transition region being equal.

Claim 16

The laser of claim 5 wherein the optical means further comprises an optical resonant cavity positioned along said longitudinal axis adjacent the opposite ends of said active region for providing stimulated emission of radiation from said active region.

Claim 17

The laser of claim 4 wherein the optical means further comprises an optical resonant cavity positioned along said longitudinal axis adjacent the opposite ends of said active region for providing stimulated emission of radiation from said active region.

Claim 18

The laser of claim 1 wherein the optical means further comprises an optical resonant cavity positioned along said longitudinal axis adjacent the opposite ends of said active region for providing stimulated emission of radiation from said active region.