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US3863178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for the production of laser radiation from a metal vapor
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-21
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Granted: 1975-01-28
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Expires: 1993-06-21
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a technique for producing vapors of metals in containment vessels that experience the melting temperature but not the boiling temperature of the metal being vaporized. The metal is maintained in molten pools by the containment vessel. Pumping means such as wicks transfer the metal from the pools to a higher temperature region internal of the containment vessel where the liquid metal is boiled into a vapor. The generation of laser radiation from an excited metal vapor produced in this manner is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl M Ferrar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/031
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for the production of laser radiation from a metal vapor working medium comprising: a closed vessel for the containment of a vaporous working medium including a reservoir region in which the medium can accumulate in the liquid phase; a heater element internal of the vessel to provide a hot surface at a temperature sufficient to boil liquid phase working medium which is brought into contact with the surface; a power source for supplying energy to the heating element; liquid metal transfer means for moving the working medium in the liquid phase from the reservoir region to the surface of the heater element; means for producing an electric discharge internal of the vessel to cause a population inversion in the vaporous working medium; and means for sustaining stimulated emission of laser radiation in the excited working medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for the production of laser radiation from a metal vapor working medium comprising: a closed vessel for the containment of a vaporous working medium including a reservoir region in which the medium can accumulate in the liquid phase; a heater element internal of the vessel to provide a hot surface at a temperature sufficient to boil liquid phase working medium which is brought into contact with the surface; a power source for supplying energy to the heating element; liquid metal transfer means for moving the working medium in the liquid phase from the reservoir region to the surface of the heater element; means for producing an electric discharge internal of the vessel to cause a population inversion in the vaporous working medium; and means for sustaining stimulated emission of laser radiation in the excited working medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transfer means comprises metal wicks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the closed vessel is substantially a right cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the right cylinder contains at least one separator which extends radially from the lower surface toward the centerline of the cylinder to form liquid retainable pockets along the lower surface of the cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the heater element is a semiconductor material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for sustaining the stimulated emission comprises a resonant optical cavity formed with a pair of mirrors one of which is partially transparent at the wavelength of the laser radiation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3585524A
Cited
US3614658A
Cited
US3683295A
Cited
US3663892A
Cited
US3792373A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-27 | 1978-07-29 | 1979-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-27 | 1982-07-29 | 1983-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-27 | 1986-07-29 | 1987-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |