US3887882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric discharge laser with electromagnetic radiation induced conductivity enhancement of the gain medium
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1972-08-01
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1992-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A laser concept is disclosed in which the electrical conductivity of the gain medium is enhanced by the absorption of electromagnetic radiation. The enhanced conductivity is caused either by photoionization or electron cascade ionization absorption of single frequency electromagnetic radiation by the laser gain medium. Some embodiments include an auxiliary source of ionizing radiation such as a low power laser or a pumping lamp. Alternate embodiments discuss the use of a single resonator which is subjected to two sequenced electrical pulses. One variation to the embodiments discussed includes providing seed material to the gain medium in order to encourage better interaction with the ionizing radiation. Another variation of the double pulsed embodiment uses a gain medium which includes two different laser gases; the laser output from the first of the laser gases provides the auxiliary ionization necessary to the electric pumping of the second laser gas.
Inventors
- 👤 David C Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/23; H01S3/2366; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A gas laser comprising: a gas envelope for containing a gain medium including an active laser gas; an optical resonator positioned within the envelope for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; electric discharge means within the envelope for pumping the gain medium by providing a nonarcing electric discharge across the medium; a source of electric power for providing an electric potential to the discharge means; and an electric power conditioning unit for providing electric potential to the electric discharge means as two sequenced pulses, the first pulse having an electric field gradient that exceeds the breakdown gradient of the gain medium and produces a population inversion therein whereby the gain medium laser producing a laser pulse of low energy content, the laser radiation from the low energy pulse being absorbed by the gain medium which is further ionized, and the second pulse providing additional pumping of the gain medium in a nonarc discharge to produce a laser pulse of high energy content by stimulated emIssion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A gas laser comprising: a gas envelope for containing a gain medium including an active laser gas; an optical resonator positioned within the envelope for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; electric discharge means within the envelope for pumping the gain medium by providing a nonarcing electric discharge across the medium; a source of electric power for providing an electric potential to the discharge means; and an electric power conditioning unit for providing electric potential to the electric discharge means as two sequenced pulses, the first pulse having an electric field gradient that exceeds the breakdown gradient of the gain medium and produces a population inversion therein whereby the gain medium laser producing a laser pulse of low energy content, the laser radiation from the low energy pulse being absorbed by the gain medium which is further ionized, and the second pulse providing additional pumping of the gain medium in a nonarc discharge to produce a laser pulse of high energy content by stimulated emIssion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The laser according to claim 1 in which the gain medium contains first and second active laser gases wherein the first of the sequenced electric pulses excites the first laser gas which lases thereby producing laser radiation at a first wavelength which in turn is absorbed by the second laser gas which is excited by the second sequenced electric pulse to produce laser radiation at a second wavelength which is emitted from the resonator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A gas laser for producing energy in the form of coherent electromagnetic radiation comprising: an optical resonator for producing laser radiation oscillations with a gain medium; means for producing radiation which is injected into the resonator and absorbed by the gain medium thereby enhancing the electrical conductivity of the gain medium; and means for passing a nonarcing electric current through the conductivity enhanced gain medium to produce a population inversion in the energy levels of the gain medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A gas laser for producing energy in the form of coherent electromagnetic radiation comprising: an optical resonator for producing laser radiation oscillations with a gain medium; means for producing radiation which is injected into the resonator and absorbed by the gain medium thereby enhancing the electrical conductivity of the gain medium; and means for passing a nonarcing electric current through the conductivity enhanced gain medium to produce a population inversion in the energy levels of the gain medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A gas laser for producing energy in the form of coherent electromagnetic radiation comprising: an optical resonator for producing laser radiation oscillations with a gain medium; means for producing radiation which is injected into the resonator and absorbed by the gain medium thereby enhancing the electrical conductivity of the gain medium; and means for passing a nonarcing electric current through the conductivity enhanced gain medium to produce a population inversion in the energy levels of the gain medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A gas laser for producing energy in the form of coherent electromagnetic radiation comprising: an optical resonator for producing laser radiation oscillations with a gain medium; means for producing radiation which is injected into the resonator and absorbed by the gain medium thereby enhancing the electrical conductivity of the gain medium; and means for passing a nonarcing electric current through the conductivity enhanced gain medium to produce a population inversion in the energy levels of the gain medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The laser according to claim 3 in which the gain medium contains one to ten percent helium to cause a tenuous plasma wherein less than five percent of the pulsed radiation injected into the resonator is attenuated by the plasma to sustain an ionization cascade in the gain medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser according to claim 4 in which the active laser gas in the gain medium is essentially carbon dioxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The laser according to claim 3 in which the gain medium contains a seed material that is readily ionizable when subjected to electromagnetic radiation which is injected into the resonator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser according to claim 6 in which the seed material is a solid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser according to claim 6 in which the seed material is selected from the group consisting of xenon, helium, and alkali metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
The laser according to claim 3 in which the gain medium contains first and second active laser gases each of which produces laser energy at a different wavelength wherein the radiation injected into the resonator is absorbed by the first laser gas which becomes excited and lases thereby producing laser radiation at a first wavelength which is absorbed by the second laser gas which is excited by the electric discharge to produce laser radiation at a second wavelength which is emitted from the optical resonator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laser according to claim 9 in which the first and second active laser gases are carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride respectively.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
The method of producing laser energy by stimulated emission of radiation from a gain medium in a resonant optical cavity including the steps of: introducing electromagnetic radiation into the optical cavity to cause ionization of the gain medium whereby the electrical conductivity of the gain medium is enhanced, the ionizing radiation being resonant with the ionization requirement of the gain medium; and electrically pumping the gain medium to cause stimulated emission in the resonator, the electric pumping means consisting of an electric discharge which is maintained at a potential that is sufficient to efficiently pump the gain medium but is insufficient to maintain an electric discharge across the gain medium in the absence of the ionization radiation.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
117 words
The method of producing laser energy by stimulated emission of radiation from a gain medium in a resonant optical cavity including the steps of: introducing electromagnetic radiation into the optical cavity to cause ionization of the gain medium whereby the electrical conductivity of the gain medium is enhanced, the ionizing radiation being resonant with the ionization requirement of the gain medium; and electrically pumping the gain medium to cause stimulated emission in the resonator, the electric pumping means consisting of an electric discharge which is maintained at a potential that is sufficient to efficiently pump the gain medium but is insufficient to maintain an electric discharge across the gain medium in the absence of the ionization radiation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |