US3679897A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser bombardment of microparticle beam for producing atomic particles in the form of a beam or an expanding cloud
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1969-08-28
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1989-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A beam of accelerated microparticles of substantially uniform velocity is passed transversely through an intense pulsed laser beam. In traversing the laser beam, the microparticles are thermally evaporated by the energy of the laser beam to produce either a beam or an expanding cloud of atomic particles.
Inventors
- 👤 David O Hansen
- 👤 Saul Altshuler
- 👤 William Bernsteln
- 👤 Bernard Hamermesh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:07
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H3/00; H05H3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
In combination: means for providing and accelerating a stream of charged microparticles along a beam path; laser beam means for generating a pulsed laser beam directed transversely of said beam path; particle detection means for detecting the transit of selected ones of said charged microparticles during a first time interval; and means responsive to the output from said particle detection means for actuating said laser beam means to cause a laser beam pulse to irradiate said selected microparticles during a subsequent time interval to convert said microparticles into atomic partIcles; said atomic particles forming a beam when said microparticles have relatively high longitudinal velocities in excess of 5 kilometers per second, and said microparticles forming a radially expanding cloud when said microparticles have relatively low longitudinal velocities below 100 meters per second.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
In combination: means for providing and accelerating a stream of charged microparticles along a beam path; laser beam means for generating a pulsed laser beam directed transversely of said beam path; particle detection means for detecting the transit of selected ones of said charged microparticles during a first time interval; and means responsive to the output from said particle detection means for actuating said laser beam means to cause a laser beam pulse to irradiate said selected microparticles during a subsequent time interval to convert said microparticles into atomic partIcles; said atomic particles forming a beam when said microparticles have relatively high longitudinal velocities in excess of 5 kilometers per second, and said microparticles forming a radially expanding cloud when said microparticles have relatively low longitudinal velocities below 100 meters per second.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said detection means includes means responding to microparticles of selected velocity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said laser beam means comprises a giant pulse laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention according to claim 3, and further including first means for sensing the transit of selected microparticles during a first time interval and for initiating pumping of said giant pulse laser; and second means for sensing the transit of said selected microparticles during a second time interval and for pulsing said giant pulse laser during a third time interval coincident with the passage of said selected microparticles through the path of said laser beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 4, wherein said first and second sensing means comprise particle detectors spaced along the particle beam path for detecting microparticles of selected velocity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
In combination: means for providing and accelerating a stream of microparticles along a beam path; magnetic confinement means in said beam path; means for irradiating said microparticles within said magnetic confinement means with a laser beam directed transversely of said beam path and of sufficient intensity to convert said microparticles into charged atomic particles; and means for injecting a stream of energetic neutral particles within said magnetic confinement means so as to collide with said atomic particles and ionize said energetic particles; said ionized energetic particles being thereby trapped within said magnetic confinement means
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
In combination: means for providing and accelerating a stream of microparticles along a beam path; magnetic confinement means in said beam path; means for irradiating said microparticles within said magnetic confinement means with a laser beam directed transversely of said beam path and of sufficient intensity to convert said microparticles into charged atomic particles; and means for injecting a stream of energetic neutral particles within said magnetic confinement means so as to collide with said atomic particles and ionize said energetic particles; said ionized energetic particles being thereby trapped within said magnetic confinement means
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention according to claim 6, wherein said microparticles have longitudinal velocities sufficiently below 100 meters per second as to form a radially expanding plasma cloud.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention according to claim 7, wherein said microparticles are lithium droplets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 7, wherein said energetic particles are neutral hydrogen atoms having energies in excess of 1,000 electron volts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
Atomic beam generating apparatus, comprising: means for providing and accelerating a stream of charged microparticles along a beam path; means for irradiating said microparticles with a laser beam directed transversely of said beam path and of sufficient intensity to produce a stream of atoms of substantially the same velocity as said microparticles; and means for removing charged atoms from said stream to render them electrically neutral.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
Atomic beam generating apparatus, comprising: means for providing and accelerating a stream of charged microparticles along a beam path; means for irradiating said microparticles with a laser beam directed transversely of said beam path and of sufficient intensity to produce a stream of atoms of substantially the same velocity as said microparticles; and means for removing charged atoms from said stream to render them electrically neutral.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 10, and further including means for detecting the transit of selected microparticles during a first interval of time; and means responsive to the output from said detecting means for causing said laser beam to irradiate said selected microparticles during a subsequent time interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 11, wherein said detecting means includes means responding to microparticles of selected velocity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention according to claim 10, wherein said laser beam means comprises a giant pulse laser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention according to claim 13, and further including first means for sensing the transit of selected microparticles during a first time interval and for initiating pumping of said giant pulse laser; and second means for sensing the transit of said selected microparticles during a second time interval and for pulsing said giant pulse laser during a third time interval coincident with the passage of said selected microparticles through the path of said laser beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 14, wherein said first and second sensing means comprise particle detectors spaced along the paRticle beam path for detecting microparticles of selected velocity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
Atomic beam generating apparatus, comprising: means for providing and accelerating a stream of charged microparticles along a beam path; means for irradiating said microparticles with a pulse of coherent radiation directed normal of said beam path and of sufficient intensity and duration to cause vaporization of microparticles in said stream and produce therefrom a stream of atoms of substantially the same velocity as said microparticles; and means for removing charged atoms from said stream to render them electrically neutral.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
Atomic beam generating apparatus, comprising: means for providing and accelerating a stream of charged microparticles along a beam path; means for irradiating said microparticles with a pulse of coherent radiation directed normal of said beam path and of sufficient intensity and duration to cause vaporization of microparticles in said stream and produce therefrom a stream of atoms of substantially the same velocity as said microparticles; and means for removing charged atoms from said stream to render them electrically neutral.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |