Hydrogen rotation-vibration oscillator

Claim 2

A rotational-vibrational laser system comprising: means containing molecular hydrogen of a species selected from the group consisting of H2, D2, HD, HT, and DT at a pressure of about 10 atmospheres, means for maintaining said molecular hydrogen at a temperature of about 77*K, means for subjecting said molecular hydrogen to at least one beam of electrons of an energy between about 1 and 5 eV, and means associated with said containing means defining an optically resonant cavity, whereby activation of said molecular hydrogen by said electrons creates a population inversion in the hydrogen and consequent oscillation on rotational vibrational energy levels producing high intensity and high energy output.

Claim 3

The laser system defined in claim 1, wherein the molecular hydrogen is H2 gas.

Claim 4

The laser system defined in claim 1, wherein said means for subjecting said molecular hydrogen to at least one beam of electrons includes an electron beam generating means for initiating said beams of electrons.

Claim 5

The laser system defined in claim 1, wherein said containing means comprises a longitudinally extending housing, wherein said temperature maintaining means includes a cooling jacket positioned in spaced relationship about wall surfaces of said housing defining a cooling channel therebetween containing a coolant, said housing being provided at opposite enDs thereof with window means transparent to the types of energy directed therethrough, said housing being divided into two sections by an electrically conductive grid means, one section being under vacuum and the other section containing said molecular hydrogen; wherein said means for subjecting said molecular hydrogen to at least one beam of electrons includes a pair of electrode means in spaced relationship positioned within said other section of said housing, said grid means being operatively connected to one of said pair of electrode means, the other of said pair of electrode means being at a more positive potential than said one of said pair so as to attract electrons from said one electrode means causing same to pass transversely through said molecular hydrogen, said one section of said housing containing a cathode means positioned in spaced relationship with said one of said pair of electrode means, electron beam generating means aligned with said one section of said housing for directing a beam of energy intermediate said one of said pair of electrode means and said cathode means causing a flow of electrons from said cathode means to said one of said pair of electrode means causing secondary electrons to be driven off said grid means and directed through said molecular hydrogen contained in said other section of said housing by attraction thereof to said other of said pair of electrode means; and wherein said means associated with said containing means defining an optically resonant cavity comprises means at least partially reflective located adjacent opposite ends of said other section of said housing.

Claim 8

The method defined in claim 5, additionally including the step of selecting the para-hydrogen from the group consisting of H2, D2, HD, HT, and DT.

Claim 9

The method defined in claim 5, additionally including the step of utilizing an electron beam generating means for initiating the transverse beam of electrons through the para-hydrogen.

Claim 10

The method defined in claim 5, wherein the step of containing a quantity of para-hydrogen is carried out by containing H2.