US3815047A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transversely-excited waveguide gas laser
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1973-02-14
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1993-02-14
Abstract
Abstract There are disclosed various configurations for waveguide gas lasers operating at high total gas pressures to enable a broad tuning band and with a transverse excitation structure that reduces the threshold and waste heat generation of the laser. This structure typically includes a smooth base anode and cathode squares plated on a dielectric that forms an opposed wall of the waveguiding structure. Multiple gas inlets and outlets are also preferably provided along the bore; and the pulse-forming capacitors can be formed integrally with the cathodes by plating a common electrode over the dielectric support of the cathodes. Optionally, the anode may be cooled thermoelectrically because of the small heat generation per unit length. A variety of preionization techniques, including a multiplicity of plasma-jets, are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 P Smith
- 👤 O Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:03
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/0315; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0971; H01S3/09713; H01S3/09716
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A gas laser of the type including a bore of transverse dimension suitable for waveguiding of selected laser radiation, a gas suitable for supplying said radiation, means for resonating said radiation along said bore, and means for establishing a discharge in said gas in said bore to provide a population inversion in said gas, characterized in that said discharge establishing means comprises an anode having a smooth surface running along said bore and forming a wall thereof, an opposing dielectric wall of said bore, and a plurality of cathode structures disposed on said dielectric wall and having surfaces parallel to said anode surface, whereby said anode and said cathode structures participate in the waveguiding of the laser radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A gas laser of the type including a bore of transverse dimension suitable for waveguiding of selected laser radiation, a gas suitable for supplying said radiation, means for resonating said radiation along said bore, and means for establishing a discharge in said gas in said bore to provide a population inversion in said gas, characterized in that said discharge establishing means comprises an anode having a smooth surface running along said bore and forming a wall thereof, an opposing dielectric wall of said bore, and a plurality of cathode structures disposed on said dielectric wall and having surfaces parallel to said anode surface, whereby said anode and said cathode structures participate in the waveguiding of the laser radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A gas laser of the type claimed in claim 1 in which a bore of rectangular cross-section is provided, said laser including dielectric plates separating said anode surface and the opposing dielectric wall and having surfaces adjacent the gas and essentially orthogonal to said dielectric wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gas laser of the type claimed in claim 2 in which the thickness of the dielectric plates is of the order of 1 millimeter and their separation is of the order of 1 millimeter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A gas laser of the type claimed in claim 1 including in cooperation with the cathode structures and the dielectric wall a plurality of integrated capacitors comprising an electrode plated on a surface of the dielectric wall essentially uniformly spaced from said cathode structures and extending over like portions of all of said plurality of said cathode structures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A gas laser of the type claimed in claim 2 in which the cathode structures are separated from the dielectric plates by means of a sputtered dielectric film therebetween producing a separation of discharge space from said plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A gas laser of the type claimed in claim 1 in which the anode includes a plurality of gas inlets and a plurality of gas outlets to said bore, said inlets and said outlets being disposed alternately along the length of said bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A gas laser of the type claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of discrete means for pre-ionizing the gas medium in said bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A gas laser of the type claimed in claim 7 in which the plurality of discrete pre-ionizing means include a plurality of ultraviolet lamps arranged to illuminate the gas within said bore and means for energizing said lamps.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gas laser of the type claimed in claim 7 in which the plurality of discrete pre-ionizing means comprises a plurality of arc forming circuits disposed to form arcs within the gas within the bore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A gas laser of the type claimed in claim 7 in which the plurality of discrete pre-ionizing means include a plurality of cavities in one dielectric member forming a wall of said bore, a cathode within each cavity, and a ring-type anode in each cavity between the cathode and the bore, said laser including means for generating an ionizing voltage between the plurality of respective pairs of cathodes and anodes, whereby a plasma passes through the ring-type anodes into the gas within the bore.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3386043A
Cited
US3577096A
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US3571745A
Cited
US3772611A
Cited
US3753152A
Cited
US3757248A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |