Patent US3725735A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3725735A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Transverse electrode excitation of a molecular gas laser

Assignee: Department of National Defence
•
Filing: 1970-08-20
•
Granted: 1973-04-03
•
Expires: 1990-08-20
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A transverse excitation system for a molecular gas laser is disclosed in which a pair of electrodes supplied with high voltage DC pulses are provided, the electrodes being shaped to cause an electric discharge therebetween which has a predetermined geometric distribution such that the gain characteristic and the refractive index characteristic of the laser is a spatial distribution to preferentially excite a predetermined resonant cavity mode in the laser gas. Two specific examples of such an electrode structure as a helical electrode structure and a planar electrode structure in which a plurality of rows of pin electrodes are provided, the rows being skewed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the laser.

Inventors

  • 👤 A Beaulieu
  • 👤 A Robinson
  • 👤 R Fortin
  • 👤 D Johnson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 21:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/038; H01S3/0385; H01S3/0387

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 193 words
In a molecular gas laser having an optical axis and being energized by a high voltage pulse source, a transverse excitation electrode structure having electrodes on opposing sides of said optical axis and comprising a first series of pin electrodes in said molecular gas and connected to one side of said high voltage pulse source, a second electrode in said molecular gas and positioned transversely in relation to said first series of pin electrodes and the active volume of said laser and connected to the other side of said high voltage pulse source whereby an electrical discharge occurs in said molecular gas between each pin electrode of said first series of pin electrodes and said second electrode, the position of each pin electrode of said first series of pin electrodes being displaced laterally with respect to said optical axis from the position of the immediately adjacent pin electrodes of said first series of pin electrodes, said pin electrodes of said first series of pin electrodes thus forming a row extending at an angle to the optical axis of said laser, to reinforce the generation of laser energy in a predetermined resonant cavity mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 193 words
In a molecular gas laser having an optical axis and being energized by a high voltage pulse source, a transverse excitation electrode structure having electrodes on opposing sides of said optical axis and comprising a first series of pin electrodes in said molecular gas and connected to one side of said high voltage pulse source, a second electrode in said molecular gas and positioned transversely in relation to said first series of pin electrodes and the active volume of said laser and connected to the other side of said high voltage pulse source whereby an electrical discharge occurs in said molecular gas between each pin electrode of said first series of pin electrodes and said second electrode, the position of each pin electrode of said first series of pin electrodes being displaced laterally with respect to said optical axis from the position of the immediately adjacent pin electrodes of said first series of pin electrodes, said pin electrodes of said first series of pin electrodes thus forming a row extending at an angle to the optical axis of said laser, to reinforce the generation of laser energy in a predetermined resonant cavity mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 71 words
In a molecular gas laser as defined in claim 1, said active volume being circular in cross section, each of said pin electrodes of said first series of pin electrodes being positioned in a pattern of a helix of uniform pitch angle about said active volume, and said second electrode comprises a second series of pin electrodes each positioned diametrically opposite a pin electrode of said first series of pin electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
In a molecular gas laser as defined in claim 1, said first series of pin electrodes comprising a plurality of parallel rows of pin electrodes arranged longitudinally of said active volume, and skewed at an angle to the optical axis thereof.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3402313A Cited
US3464025A Cited
US3543179A Cited
US3427567A Cited
US3577096A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-04-02 1976-10-02 1977-04-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-04-02 1980-10-02 1981-04-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-04-02 1984-10-02 1985-04-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag