US3829792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for the increase of output of gas lasers and apparatus for carrying out the method
Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
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Filing: 1971-09-20
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1991-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for generating a gas laser. Gas is caused to circulate in a closed cycle and circulates transversely through a resonant zone positioned on the laser axis. Gas flows through the resonant zone at subsonic speed and under simultaneous electric excitation. Magnetic pole pieces are arranged adjacent the resonant zone for controlling and stabilizing the discharge path of the laser. In the apparatus aspects of the invention an evacuated flow tunnel for closed circuit circulation of gas is provided with a resonant zone transversely across the flow path. Such zone is arranged with electric excitation means and resonator mirrors as required. Pole pieces are provided adjacent the resonant zone for guiding and stabilizing a discharge path of the laser. Blower and cooling means are also provided in the gas flow path. In a further embodiment, flow plates are aligned with the gas flow direction and placed immediately downstream from the resonant zone to assist in preventing the gas discharge of the laser path from bending out of the predetermined position.
Inventors
- 👤 G Born
- 👤 K Erben
- 👤 F Mohr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:29
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/036; H01S3/032; H01S3/0326
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
An apparatus for increasing the output of electrically excited gas transport lasers, comprising: housing means defining a gas circuit for containing and guiding the flow of a gaseous laser medium; means defining an elongated resonant chamber in said housing means having an optical axis transverse to the direction of flow of said gaseouS laser medium, said resonant chamber means being connected in circuit with said flow of said gaseous laser medium, electrode means coaxially disposed about said optical axis, said electrode means being adapted to generate a gas discharge is said resonant chambers means; blower means for moving said gaseous laser medium through said circuit at a subsonic speed sufficient to cause a deflection of the gas discharge along a curved optic axis downstream of said optical axis of said resonant chamber means; lamella means located downstream of said optical axis of said resonant chamber means and having means defining surfaces extending parallel to the direction of flow of said gaseous laser medium for creating a stabilized gas discharge in said resonant chamber means, said deflection of said gas discharge being limited by said lamella means to thereby optimize the filling of the volume of said resonant chamber means with said gas discharge, said lamella means comprising a plurality of side-by-side planar plates mounted in said housing means in contact with said gaseous laser medium, the planar surfaces of said side-by-side plates being parallel to the direction of flow of said gaseous laser medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
244 words
An apparatus for increasing the output of electrically excited gas transport lasers, comprising: housing means defining a gas circuit for containing and guiding the flow of a gaseous laser medium; means defining an elongated resonant chamber in said housing means having an optical axis transverse to the direction of flow of said gaseouS laser medium, said resonant chamber means being connected in circuit with said flow of said gaseous laser medium, electrode means coaxially disposed about said optical axis, said electrode means being adapted to generate a gas discharge is said resonant chambers means; blower means for moving said gaseous laser medium through said circuit at a subsonic speed sufficient to cause a deflection of the gas discharge along a curved optic axis downstream of said optical axis of said resonant chamber means; lamella means located downstream of said optical axis of said resonant chamber means and having means defining surfaces extending parallel to the direction of flow of said gaseous laser medium for creating a stabilized gas discharge in said resonant chamber means, said deflection of said gas discharge being limited by said lamella means to thereby optimize the filling of the volume of said resonant chamber means with said gas discharge, said lamella means comprising a plurality of side-by-side planar plates mounted in said housing means in contact with said gaseous laser medium, the planar surfaces of said side-by-side plates being parallel to the direction of flow of said gaseous laser medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, including magnetic field generating means located downstream of said resonant chamber means for producing a magnetic field which is mutually perpendicular to said optical axis of said resonant chamber means and said direction of flow of said gaseous laser medium, said magnetic field serving to control the amount of said deflection and limiting same generally to said optical axis of said resonant chamber means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lamella means includes means for securing said lamella means to the wall of said housing means; and wherein said lamella means are adapted to remove heat from said gaseous laser medium as said gaseous laser medium comes in contact with the planar surfaces of said planar plates and transmit said heat to said walls of said housing through said securing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas circuit is a vacuum-tight circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said blower means comprises a blower for circulating said gaseous laser medium in said circuit, a reservoir containing gaseous laser medium and pumping means for removing and replacing the gaseous laser medium in said gas circuit with gaseous laser medium from said reservoir.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for increasing the output of electrically excited gas transport lasers, the steps comprising: circulating a gaseous laser mixture containing CO2, N2, He and H2 at a pressure of approximately 1 to 50 torr in a continuously closed path at a subsonic velocity and through a resonant chamber the optical axis of which is transverse to the flow direction of said gaseous laser mixture; electrically exciting said gaseous laser mixture and effecting a transporting of same into and through said resonant chamber to produce gas discharge in said resonant chamber; and stabilizing said gas discharge downstream of the axis of said resonant chamber by passing said gaseous laser mixture between a plurality of parallel side-by-side planar plates extending parallel to the direction of gas flow.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for increasing the output of electrically excited gas transport lasers, the steps comprising: circulating a gaseous laser mixture containing CO2, N2, He and H2 at a pressure of approximately 1 to 50 torr in a continuously closed path at a subsonic velocity and through a resonant chamber the optical axis of which is transverse to the flow direction of said gaseous laser mixture; electrically exciting said gaseous laser mixture and effecting a transporting of same into and through said resonant chamber to produce gas discharge in said resonant chamber; and stabilizing said gas discharge downstream of the axis of said resonant chamber by passing said gaseous laser mixture between a plurality of parallel side-by-side planar plates extending parallel to the direction of gas flow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, including the step of cooling said gaseous mixture downstream of said resonant chamber by removing heat in said gaseous mixture through said planar plates to the walls of the resonant chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3633125A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |