US3939439A — Diffused waveguiding capillary tube with distribu…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 147 words

For use in a waveguide gas laser, a tube structure comprising: an elongated capillary tube having an outer surface extending from a first end to a second opposite end of said tube, said tube further having an inner surface, defining an elongated opening extending between said ends, at least a portion of said inner surface defining corrugations along the length of said opening with a periodicity Λ, where Λ is equal to one half of a selected wavelength λ, said tube being of a material with an index of refraction definable as n 2 , said tube further including a diffused region surrounding said opening with an index of refraction, definable as n 3 , where n 3 > n 2 the depth of said diffused region around said opening, definable as d, being less than the thickness of said tube between its outer and inner surfaces.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 147 words

For use in a waveguide gas laser, a tube structure comprising: an elongated capillary tube having an outer surface extending from a first end to a second opposite end of said tube, said tube further having an inner surface, defining an elongated opening extending between said ends, at least a portion of said inner surface defining corrugations along the length of said opening with a periodicity Λ, where Λ is equal to one half of a selected wavelength λ, said tube being of a material with an index of refraction definable as n 2 , said tube further including a diffused region surrounding said opening with an index of refraction, definable as n 3 , where n 3 > n 2 the depth of said diffused region around said opening, definable as d, being less than the thickness of said tube between its outer and inner surfaces.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

The tube as described in claim 1 wherein the index of refraction n 3 of said diffused region decreases from a first value at said inner surface, defining said opening, to a lower value at the depth d from said inner surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

The tube as described in claim 1 wherein the depth of the diffused region d is not less than 1λ.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The tube as described in claim 3 wherein the depth of the diffused region d is on the order of 3λ.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

The tube as described in claim 4 wherein the index of refraction n 3 of said diffused region is on the order of n 2 + 0.1 at substantially the inner surface defining said opening and decreases to a value substantially equal but not less than n 2 at the depth d.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

The tube as described in claim 1 wherein at least two opposite portions of the inner surface, defining said opening, are corrugated with the corrugations on the two opposite portions of said inner surface, the corrugations being aligned along the length of said opening.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 45 words

The tube as described in claim 6 wherein the depth of the diffused region is not less than 1λ and up to about 3λ, and the distance between the two corrugated opposite portions of said inner surface is on the order of 1λ to 7λ.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 52 words

The tube as described in claim 7 wherein the index of refraction n 3 of said diffused region is on the order of n 2 + 0.1 at substantially the inner surface, defining said opening, and decreases to a value substantially equal but not less than n 2 at the depth d.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

The tube as described in claim 6 wherein said opening is characterized by a rectangular cross-section in a direction perpendicular to its length with the corrugated opposite sides forming two opposite sides of the rectangular opening.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

The tube as described in claim 9 wherein the depth of the diffused region is not less than 1λ and up to about 3λ, and the distance between the two corrugated opposite portions of said inner surface is on the order of 1λ to 7λ.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

The tube as described in claim 10 wherein the index of refraction n 3 of said diffused region is on the order of n 2 + 0.1 at substantially the inner surface defining said opening and decreases to a value substantially equal but not less than n 2 at the depth d.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 201 words

In a gas laser of the type including a capillary tube defining an elongated capillary opening formed by an inner surface of said tube, said opening providing a path for the gas which lases therein to provide a laser beam at a wavelength λ, the tube being characterized with at least a portion of the inner surface being corrugated by corrugations with a periodicity Λ, where 2Λ = qλ, q being an integer to provide distributed feedback in said tube, the tube material being characterized by an index of refraction definable as n 2 with the index of refraction in said opening being definable as n 1 = 1, the improvement comprising: a diffused region in said tube surrounding said opening and extending to a depth d therefrom, the diffused region index of refraction being n 3 which is greater than the index of refraction of the tube material, n 2 , which extends beyond the diffused region to the tube's outer surface, said diffused region serving as a waveguide for waves guided therein, with the evanescent component of said waves interacting with the lasing gas in said opening, gaining energy therefrom to amplify the waves travelling in said diffused region.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 201 words

In a gas laser of the type including a capillary tube defining an elongated capillary opening formed by an inner surface of said tube, said opening providing a path for the gas which lases therein to provide a laser beam at a wavelength λ, the tube being characterized with at least a portion of the inner surface being corrugated by corrugations with a periodicity Λ, where 2Λ = qλ, q being an integer to provide distributed feedback in said tube, the tube material being characterized by an index of refraction definable as n 2 with the index of refraction in said opening being definable as n 1 = 1, the improvement comprising: a diffused region in said tube surrounding said opening and extending to a depth d therefrom, the diffused region index of refraction being n 3 which is greater than the index of refraction of the tube material, n 2 , which extends beyond the diffused region to the tube's outer surface, said diffused region serving as a waveguide for waves guided therein, with the evanescent component of said waves interacting with the lasing gas in said opening, gaining energy therefrom to amplify the waves travelling in said diffused region.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 55 words

The tube as described in claim 12 wherein the index of refraction n 3 of said diffused region decreases from a first value at the tube's inner surface which is greater than n 2 to a value which is substantially equal but not less than n 2 at the depth d of said diffused region.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

The tube as described in claim 13 wherein the diffusion depth d is not less than 1λ, the opening is a rectangular opening with the corrugation, producing said distributed feedback, being on at least one side of said rectangular opening.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

The tube as described in claim 14 wherein two opposite sides of said rectangular opening are corrugated with the distance between said two opposite corrugated surfces being on the order of not less than 1λ.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

The tube as described in claim 15 wherein the diffused region depth is on the order of 3λ.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

The tube as described in claim 16 wherein the distance between the two opposite corrugated surfaces is on the order of 1λ to 7λ.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-02-16	1979-08-18	1980-02-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-02-16	1983-08-18	1984-02-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-02-16	1987-08-18	1988-02-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Diffused waveguiding capillary tube with distributed feedback for a gas laser

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