Electron beam-initiated chemical laser systems

Claim 2

An electron beam-initiated volumetrically ignited chemical gas explosion laser system comprising: means defining an optical resonant cavity; a containment vessel means located within said resonant cavity; an explosive gaseous lasing medium within said containment vessel means; electron beam generating means for producing short high energy electron pulses for causing multipoint uniform, non-propagational ignition of said explosive gaseous lasing medium, said electronic beam generating means being operatively connected to said containment vessel means for directing beams of said short high energy electron pulses through said explosive gaseous lasing medium contained in said containment vessel means, such that a beam of electrons from said generating means passing through said explosive gaseous medium, causing multipoint, uniform and non-propagational ignition of the explosive gaseous medium producing excited chemical species having a lasing capability by creating a large population inversion in the energy states of the lasing chemical species.

Claim 3

The laser system defined in claim 1, wherein said containment vessel means is formed of a first pair of oppositely positioned sidewalls, a second pair of oppositely positioned sidewalls transparent to light, and a pair of oppositely positioned endwalls transparent to high energy electrons.

Claim 4

The laser system defined in claim 2, wherein said resonant cavity comprises a pair of mirrors, one of said mirrors having a reflectivity characteristic of about 100 percent, and the other of said mirrors being adjustable in reflectivity to give maximum laser output.

Claim 5

The laser system defined in claim 2, wherein said first pair of oppositely positioned sidewalls is transparent to light.

Claim 6

The laser system defined in claim 2, wherein said first and secOnd pairs of oppositely positioned sidewalls are constructed from sodium chloride and said pair of endwalls is constructed from aluminum.

Claim 7

The laser system defined in claim 1, additionally including electron beam dispersing means operatively connected between said electron beam generating means and said optical cavity for dispersing the electron pulses from said electron beam generating means to conform substantially with the cross-sectional area of said optical cavity.

Claim 8

The laser system defined in claim 1, wherein said explosive gaseous medium consists essentially of a chemical mixture which, when illuminated by an electron beam, in an exothermic reaction produces excited hydrogen fluoride which exhibits gain and lasing action.

Claim 9

An electron beam-initiated volumetrically ignited chemical gas explosive laser system comprising: means defining a containment vessel; an explosive gaseous lasing medium within said containment vessel; electron beam generating means for producing short high energy electron pulses for causing multipoint, uniform, non-propagational ignition of said explosive gaseous lasing medium, said electron beam generating means being operatively connected to said containment vessel for directing beams of said short high energy electron pulses through said explosive gaseous lasing medium in said containment vessel; said containment vessel including a first pair of oppositely positioned wall surfaces having at least a portion thereof transparent to light, and a second pair of oppositely positioned wall surfaces transparent to high energy electrons; and means providing a light path through said first pair of wall surfaces and said lasing medium; such that beams of electrons from said generating means passing through said explosive gaseous lasing medium, causes multipoint, uniform and non-propagational ignition of the explosive gaseous medium producing a high-gain medium of excited chemical species by creating a large population inversion in the energy states of the chemical species for amplifying light passing through said first pair of transparent wall surfaces of said containment vessel.

Claim 10

An electron beam-initiated volumetrically ignited chemical gas explosive laser system comprising: means defining a containment vessel; an explosive gaseous lasing medium within said containment vessel; electron beam generating means for producing short high energy electron pulses for causing multipoint, uniform, non-propagational ignition of said explosive gaseous lasing medium, said electron beam generating means being operatively connected to said containment vessel for directing beams of said short high energy electron pulses through said explosive gaseous lasing medium in said containment vessel; said containment vessel including a first pair of oppositely positioned wall surfaces having at least a portion thereof transparent to light, and a second pair of oppositely positioned wall surfaces transparent to high energy electrons; and means providing a light path through said first pair of wall surfaces and said lasing medium; such that beams of electrons from said generating means passing through said explosive gaseous lasing medium, causes multipoint, uniform and non-propagational ignition of the explosive gaseous medium producing a high-gain medium of excited chemical species by creating a large population inversion in the energy states of the chemical species for amplifying light passing through said first pair of transparent wall surfaces of said containment vessel.

Claim 11

The system defined in claim 8, wherein said first pair of oppositely positioned wall surfaces define a first pair of sidewalls, wherein said second pair of oppositely positioned wall surfaces define a pair of endwalls, and wherein said containment vessel includes a third pair of oppositely positioned wall surfaces defining a second pair of sidewalls, said first and second pairs of sidewalls and said pair of endwalls being interconnected.

Claim 12

The system defined in claim 9, wherein said first pair of sidewalls include at least a portion thereof constructed from sodium chloride, and said pair of endwalls is constructed from aluminum.

Claim 13

The system defined in claim 8, additionally including electron beam dispersing means operatively connected between said electron beam generating means and said containment vessel for dispersing the electron pulses from said generating means to conform substantially with the cross-sectional area of said containment vessel.

Claim 14

The system defined in claim 8, wherein said explosive gaseous medium consists essentially of a chemical mixture which, when illuminated by an electron beam, in an exothermic reaction produces excited hydrogen fluoride which exhibits gain.