US3760294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal mixing gas laser
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A laser having a gas generating section that delivers a flow of hot nitrogen gas (N2) to a nozzle. The N2 is expanded through the nozzle to achieve supersonic flow of the N2. The nozzle includes injection ports positioned so as to inject cold carbon dioxide gas (CO2) into the N2 flow at a point in the nozzle where flow is supersonic, just downstream of the throat. The injection of a cold gas enhances population inversion in the cold gas. Thorough mixing of the hot and cold gases occurs prior to exit of the gases from the nozzle. The gases exhaust from the nozzle into a lasing chamber wherein laser energy is extracted from the flow.
Inventors
- 👤 T Roberts
- 👤 G Hutcheson
- 👤 C Rust
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:31
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/095; H01S3/0951; H01S3/0953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
23 words
The laser apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said nozzle piece forms a plurality of said converging-diverging nozzles stacked one above the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
The laser apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein said gas injection means comprises manifold means formed in said nozzle piece to receive said second gas and injection ports formed in said nozzle piece and positioned for injecting said second gas from said manifold into the diverging cavity at a point adjacent the throat of the expansion nozzle.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
192 words
The method of achieving an improved radiation emission in a gas laser device wherein at least two gases are employed as the lasing materials, said method comprising the steps of: injecting a hot plasma flow of a first gas into a plenum chamber, simultaneously injecting a quantity of said first gas into the plenum chamber that is relatively cold to be mixed as a diluent with said plasma to form a hot gas mixture, expanding said hot gas mixture through a nozzle having a converging entry section, a throat, and a diverging exit section, to impart a supersonic velocity thereto, injecting a second relatively cold gas into the hot gas mixture being expanded through the nozzle at a point adjacent the nozzle throat where the flow of said first hot gas being expanded through the nozzle reaches supersonic velocity for thoroughly mixing the first and second gases are in the diverging exit section of said nozzle to form an active gas laser mixture with a population inversion therein, and injecting said supersonically flowing active gas laser medium from said nozzle directly into an optical chamber for stimulating the emisSion of radiation therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3694770A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |