US3916338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Metal atom oxidation laser
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1974-05-13
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A chemical laser which operates by formation of metal or carbon atoms and reaction of such atoms with a gaseous oxidizer in an optical resonant cavity. The lasing species are diatomic or polyatomic in nature and are readily produced by exchange or other abstraction reactions between the metal or carbon atoms and the oxidizer. The lasing molecules may be metal or carbon monohalides or monoxides.
Inventors
- 👤 Reed J Jensen
- 👤 Walter W Rice
- 👤 Willard H Beattie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A CHEMICAL LASER WHICH COMPRISES (A) AN OPTICAL GAIN REGION (B) MEANS FOR CONTAINING A GASEOUS OXIDIZER WITHIN SAID GAIN REGION, (C) A GASEOUS OXIDIZER CONTAINED WITHIN SAID CAVITY, (D) MEANS FOR FORMING AND MIXING COPIOUS QUANTITIES OF METAL ATOMS WITH SAID OXIDIZER TO FORM MOLECULES CONTAINING SAID METAL ATOMS AND HAVING A POPULATION INVERSION THEREIN, SAID METAL AND SAID OXIDIZER BEING SO SELECTED THAT THE REACTION OF SAID OXIDIZER WITH SAID METAL ATOMS TO FORM MOLECULES CONTAINING SAID METAL ATOMS IS HIGHLY EXOTHERMIC AND SAID OXIDIZER BEING AT A PRESSURE AT WHICH THE LASING THRESHOLD IS EXCEEDED, AND (E) MEANS FOR STIMULATING A BEAM OF LASER RADIATION IS SAID INVERTED MOLECULES.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A CHEMICAL LASER WHICH COMPRISES (A) AN OPTICAL GAIN REGION (B) MEANS FOR CONTAINING A GASEOUS OXIDIZER WITHIN SAID GAIN REGION, (C) A GASEOUS OXIDIZER CONTAINED WITHIN SAID CAVITY, (D) MEANS FOR FORMING AND MIXING COPIOUS QUANTITIES OF METAL ATOMS WITH SAID OXIDIZER TO FORM MOLECULES CONTAINING SAID METAL ATOMS AND HAVING A POPULATION INVERSION THEREIN, SAID METAL AND SAID OXIDIZER BEING SO SELECTED THAT THE REACTION OF SAID OXIDIZER WITH SAID METAL ATOMS TO FORM MOLECULES CONTAINING SAID METAL ATOMS IS HIGHLY EXOTHERMIC AND SAID OXIDIZER BEING AT A PRESSURE AT WHICH THE LASING THRESHOLD IS EXCEEDED, AND (E) MEANS FOR STIMULATING A BEAM OF LASER RADIATION IS SAID INVERTED MOLECULES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said means for stimulating is an optical resonant cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The laser of claim 2 wherein said molecules are a metal monohalide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The laser of claim 3 wherein said molecules are a metal monofluoride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser of claim 2 wherein said oxidizer is selected from the class consisting of Cl2, F2, NF3, and O2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The laser of claim 5 wherein said oxidizer is F2 and said metal atoms are selected from the class consisting of V, Zn, Zr, Mo, Ag, Ta, and Pb.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser of claim 5 wherein said oxidizer is O2 and said metal atoms are refractory metal atoms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser of claim 7 wherein said oxidizer contains 1 to 10 mole percent of H2O or H2O2.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser of claim 8 wherein said metal atoms are V, Zr, Mo, Ti, Ta, W, or U.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser of claim 5 wherein said oxidizer is Cl2 and said metal atoms are U.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of producing molecules having a population inversion therein which comprises forming and reacting copious quantities of metal atoms with a gaseous oxidizer to form molecules containing said metal atoms, said oxidizer and said metal being so selected that the reaction of said oxidizer with said metal atoms to form inverted molecules containing said metal atoms is highly exothermic.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of producing molecules having a population inversion therein which comprises forming and reacting copious quantities of metal atoms with a gaseous oxidizer to form molecules containing said metal atoms, said oxidizer and said metal being so selected that the reaction of said oxidizer with said metal atoms to form inverted molecules containing said metal atoms is highly exothermic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said oxidizer is selected from the class consisting of Cl2, F2, NF3, and O2.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said oxidizer is F2 and said metal atoms are selected from the class consisting of V, Zn, Zr, Mo, Ag, Ta, and Pb.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said oxidizer is O2 and said metal atoms are refractory metal atoms.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said oxidizer contains 1 to 10 mole percent of H2O or H2O2.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said metal atoms are V, Zr, Mo, Ti, Ta, W, or U.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said oxidizer is Cl2 and said metal atoms are U.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3701045A
Cited
US3829793A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |