Patent US3723902A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3723902A
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Carbon dioxide laser employing multiple gases including oxygen and water vapor
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1970-11-30
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1990-11-30
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a laser providing emission of coherent radiation near 10 microns in the far infrared and utilizing transitions between vibrational-rotational levels in carbon dioxide. Also disclosed are beneficial effects from addition of oxygen and water vapor to various forms of such a laser.
Inventors
- 👤 C Patel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/036; H01S3/14; H01S3/22; H01S3/223; H01S3/2232
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
23 words
A laser according to claim 1 in which the active gas consists essentially of carbon dioxide, and the auxiliary gas includes molecular nitrogen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
A laser according to claim 1 including within the mixture an additional addiTive consisting essentially of water vapor having a partial pressure greater than 0.01 Torr.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
An infrared laser, comprising elongated means containing a mixture of gases and including an optical resonator permitting the abstraction of coherent radiation at about 10 microns along the axis of elongation of said means, said mixture including water vapor having a partial pressure greater than 0.01 Torr, oxygen, molecular nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and means for creating an electric discharge in said gas mixture to excite nitrogen molecules in said mixture to a vibrational energy level with a large cross-section for excitation of the upper level of a pair of vibrational rotational energy levels of said carbon dioxide, downward transitions between said pair of levels producing said radiation at about 10 microns, said water vapor and oxygen providing increased efficiency of conversion of the energy of said discharge to said radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser according to claim 4 in which the partial pressure of the water vapor in said mixture is greater than 0.01 Torr and less than 0.1 Torr.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
An infrared laser of the type comprising means through which a mixture of gases may be flowed, means for producing an electric discharge in said mixture within said means to enable the stimulated emission of radiation at about 10 microns, means for resonating and abstracting said radiation, said mixture including a first gas consisting essentially of carbon dioxide, a second gas including nitrogen, a third gas including water vapor having a partial pressure greater than 0.01 Torr, and a fourth gas including molecular oxygen having a partial pressure greater than 0.1 Torr.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A laser according to claim 6 in which the first gas has a partial pressure greater than 0.1 Torr and less than 1.0 Torr, the nitrogen has a partial pressure greater than 0.1 Torr and less than 10.0 Torr, the water vapor has a partial pressure in the range from 0.01 Torr to 0.1 Torr, and the oxygen has a partial pressure in the range from 0.1 to 0.5 Torr.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser according to claim 7 in which the nitrogen has a partial pressure greater than 1.0 Torr.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |