US3679999A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser cooling method and apparatus
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1970-06-12
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1990-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A new laser cooling method is disclosed in which materials in different physical states are laminated about the laser body. Specifically, thin gas layer is used as a heat conductor in thermal contact with the laser body. In contact with the gas layer is a high thermal conductivity solid which is also optically transparent at the pump wavelength. This material, in turn, has its opposite face or edges, or both, in contact with a liquid coolant. Thus, there is provided a cooling method in which gaseous and solid state materials act as heat conductors for liquid cooling the laser apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph P Chernoch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/04; H01S3/042; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/092; H01S3/093; H01S3/0404; H01S3/0407; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0606; H01S3/08; H01S3/08095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A coolable face pumped laser comprising: a block of laser material having a pair of parallel, rectangular surfaces, at least one of said surfaces acting as a pump face, aN optical cavity for causing light generated within said material to resonate along a zig-zig path by being totally reflected at said surfaces, a lamp for optically pumping said laser material substantially uniformly along said pump face, cooling means thermally coupled to the pump face of said laser material and comprising a stationary layer of gas in contact with said pump face, a thermally conductive solid containing said gas and a cooling fluid in contact with said solid for absorbing heat therefrom, said gas layer being sufficiently thick to permit internal reflection of the resonating light while being sufficiently thin to permit the conduction of heat from said pump face through said solid to said cooling fluid, each of said gas layer, said solid and said cooling fluid being located in the optical path of the pumping radiation from said lamp to said pump face, whereby said laser material is cooled by said fluid via said gas and solid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A coolable face pumped laser comprising: a block of laser material having a pair of parallel, rectangular surfaces, at least one of said surfaces acting as a pump face, aN optical cavity for causing light generated within said material to resonate along a zig-zig path by being totally reflected at said surfaces, a lamp for optically pumping said laser material substantially uniformly along said pump face, cooling means thermally coupled to the pump face of said laser material and comprising a stationary layer of gas in contact with said pump face, a thermally conductive solid containing said gas and a cooling fluid in contact with said solid for absorbing heat therefrom, said gas layer being sufficiently thick to permit internal reflection of the resonating light while being sufficiently thin to permit the conduction of heat from said pump face through said solid to said cooling fluid, each of said gas layer, said solid and said cooling fluid being located in the optical path of the pumping radiation from said lamp to said pump face, whereby said laser material is cooled by said fluid via said gas and solid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A coolable laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said block of laser material is in the form of a parallel-epiped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A coolable laser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said solid is sapphire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
196 words
A coolable face pumped laser comprising: a parallelepiped-shaped block of laser material, one pair of parallel rectangular sides of which form the pump faces of the laser, an optical cavity for causing light generated within said material to resonate along a zig-zig path by being totally internally reflected at said sides, a pair of lamps for optically pumping said laser material substantially uniformly along said pump faces, cooling means in thermal contact with said pump faces for cooling said laser material during laser operation, said cooling means comprising solid, liquid, and gaseous layers located in the optical paths of the pumping radiation from said lamps to said pump faces, wherein said gaseous layers all of low refractive index and contact said pump faces, said solid layers contain said gaseous layers, said gaseous layers being sufficiently thick to permit internal reflection of the resonating light while being sufficiently thin to permit the conduction of heat from said pump faces to said liquid layers through said gaseous and solid layers which act as thermal conductors, and said liquid layers, cool said solid layers, whereby said laser material is cooled by said liquid via said gaseous and solid layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
196 words
A coolable face pumped laser comprising: a parallelepiped-shaped block of laser material, one pair of parallel rectangular sides of which form the pump faces of the laser, an optical cavity for causing light generated within said material to resonate along a zig-zig path by being totally internally reflected at said sides, a pair of lamps for optically pumping said laser material substantially uniformly along said pump faces, cooling means in thermal contact with said pump faces for cooling said laser material during laser operation, said cooling means comprising solid, liquid, and gaseous layers located in the optical paths of the pumping radiation from said lamps to said pump faces, wherein said gaseous layers all of low refractive index and contact said pump faces, said solid layers contain said gaseous layers, said gaseous layers being sufficiently thick to permit internal reflection of the resonating light while being sufficiently thin to permit the conduction of heat from said pump faces to said liquid layers through said gaseous and solid layers which act as thermal conductors, and said liquid layers, cool said solid layers, whereby said laser material is cooled by said liquid via said gaseous and solid layers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3229222A
Cited
US3383622A
Cited
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 |