Patent US3886483A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3886483A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Plasma pumped laser
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1973-10-31
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-10-31
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a laser and in particular to a laser utilizing a plasma to create a population inversion in the laser active medium. The laser can be pumped by the output plasma from a fusion reactor, for example, or by plasma from other sources. Either the plasma ions or electrons or both can be used to pump the laser. Also the plasma ions can be used to provide energy to achieve a chemical laser action.
Inventors
- 👤 George H Miley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of pumping the laser active medium of a gas laser system with plasma from a fusion reactor to develop a population inversion in the laser active medium, including the steps of: a. removing the plasma from a fusion reactor with said plasma including charged particles in the form of an ion fraction and an electron fraction, b. mixing the laser active medium with a portion of said charged particles to pump said laser active medium and create a population inversion therein, c. placing said pumped laser active medium in an optical laser cavity to permit a lasing action to take place whereby coherent radiation is developed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of pumping the laser active medium of a gas laser system with plasma from a fusion reactor to develop a population inversion in the laser active medium, including the steps of: a. removing the plasma from a fusion reactor with said plasma including charged particles in the form of an ion fraction and an electron fraction, b. mixing the laser active medium with a portion of said charged particles to pump said laser active medium and create a population inversion therein, c. placing said pumped laser active medium in an optical laser cavity to permit a lasing action to take place whereby coherent radiation is developed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of pumping the laser active medium of claim 1 further including the steps of: a. seParating the ion fraction from the electron fraction of said plasma, b. mixing the laser active medium with said ion fraction to pump said laser active medium and create a population inversion therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of pumping the laser active medium of claim 1 further including the steps of: a. separating the ion fraction from the electron fraction of said plasma, b. mixing the laser active medium with said electron fraction to pump said laser active medium and create a population inversion therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of pumping the laser active medium of claim 3 further including the step of: a. directing said ion fraction to a collector structure for direct conversion of said ions to electric energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of pumping the laser active medium of claim 1 further including the steps of: a. mixing the laser active medium with said plasma including said ion fraction and said electron fraction to pump said laser active medium and create a population inversion therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of pumping the laser active medium of claim 1 wherein said laser active medium is CO2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of pumping the laser active medium of claim 1 further including the steps of: a. separating the ion fraction from the electron fraction of said plasma, b. mixing said ion fraction with D2 and F2 to develop a chemical laser reaction in which the active laser medium is DF.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of pumping the laser active medium of claim 1 further including the steps of: a. separating the ion fraction from the electron fraction of said plasma, b. mixing said ion fraction with H2 and F2 to develop a chemical laser reaction in which the active laser medium is HF.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of pumping the laser active medium of claim 1 further including the steps of: a. separating the ion fraction from the electron fraction of said plasma, b. mixing said ion fraction with DF and CO2 to develop a chemical laser reaction in which said CO2 is the active laser medium and is pumped to develop a population inversion therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of pumping the laser active medium of claim 1 further including the steps of: a. separating the ion fraction from the electron fraction of said plasma, b. mixing said ion fraction with CS2 and O2 to develop a chemical laser reaction in which the active laser medium is CO.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of pumping the laser active medium of claim 1 wherein the plasma is within a magnetic containment field in the fusion reactor further including the steps of: a. placing fusionable material selected from the group consisting of D, D; D, He3; and D, T in said magnetic containment field, b. directing said coherent radiation against said fusionable material to develop a reaction producing said plasma.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |