US3699474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple beam laser system
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1971-11-20
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1991-11-20
Abstract
Abstract An optical laser system in which the active lasing medium is simultaneously pumped over the entire volume of the lasing medium while providing various means for controllably generating giant pulses at different points in time by sequentially Q-switching of separate and distinct parallel volumes of the lasing medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Murphy J Landry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:44
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/11; H01S3/1123; H01S3/127; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383; H01S3/115; H01S3/121; H01S3/123
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A Q-switched optical laser system comprising a lasing medium; means for simultaneously pumping the entire lasing medium to increase stored energy therein; a partially reflective means adjacent an end of said lasing medium for reflecting a portion of the radiation emitted from said lasing medium back into said lasing medium; totally reflective mirror means disposed near the other end of said lasing medium optically aligned through said lasing medium with said partially reflective means; Q-spoiling means disposed between said mirror means and said partially reflective means for effectively spoiling the reflectivity of said mirror means and for forming at least three parallel, discrete, nonoverlapping, longitudinal active lasing volumes in said lasing medium and a plurality of discrete optical lasing cavities with said partially reflective means; and means associated with said Q-spoiling means for separately controlling and increasing the Q of each of said distinct lasing volumes and optical lasing cavities to initiate lasing thereof and for producing a separaTe, parallel, giant laser light beam pulse of substantially equal amplitude and energy from each of said lasing volumes separated in time from each other over selectable time intervals from pulse coincidence to the threshold population inversion duration of said medium and with selectable sequences.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A Q-switched optical laser system comprising a lasing medium; means for simultaneously pumping the entire lasing medium to increase stored energy therein; a partially reflective means adjacent an end of said lasing medium for reflecting a portion of the radiation emitted from said lasing medium back into said lasing medium; totally reflective mirror means disposed near the other end of said lasing medium optically aligned through said lasing medium with said partially reflective means; Q-spoiling means disposed between said mirror means and said partially reflective means for effectively spoiling the reflectivity of said mirror means and for forming at least three parallel, discrete, nonoverlapping, longitudinal active lasing volumes in said lasing medium and a plurality of discrete optical lasing cavities with said partially reflective means; and means associated with said Q-spoiling means for separately controlling and increasing the Q of each of said distinct lasing volumes and optical lasing cavities to initiate lasing thereof and for producing a separaTe, parallel, giant laser light beam pulse of substantially equal amplitude and energy from each of said lasing volumes separated in time from each other over selectable time intervals from pulse coincidence to the threshold population inversion duration of said medium and with selectable sequences.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser system of claim 1 wherein said optical Q-spoiling means is an array of electro-optical shutters disposed on a single electrically variable birefringent ferroelectric ceramic optical element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser system of claim 1 wherein said Q spoiling means comprises a plurality of spaced apart reflectors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The laser system of claim 3 wherein said lasing medium is generally cylindrical in shape and said system includes a pyramidal reflector means having a plurality of reflective facets extending from an apex aligned with the longitudinal axis of said lasing medium for reflecting a portion of the light emitted from said lasing means to each of said plurality of reflectors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The laser system of claim 1 wherein said lasing medium includes a bore along its longitudinal axis and said Q-spoiling means divides said lasing medium into said plurality of lasing volumes in discrete segments expanding radially outwardly from said bore.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The laser system of claim 1 including a dye laser and means for sequentially directing each of said laser light beams from said plurality of parallel active lasing volumes against and into discrete and radial longitudinal segments of said dye laser for effecting sequential and separate pumping and lasing of each of said discrete segments of said dye laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The laser system of claim 1 wherein said Q spoiling means includes a slotted mask disposed across the face of said lasing medium, an apertured disc, and means for rotating the apertures of said disc past said slotted mask between said lasing medium and said mirror.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3353115A
Cited
US3293565A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |