US4126833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High repetition rate metal halide laser
Assignee: Micron Technology Inc
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Filing: 1977-01-21
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Granted: 1978-11-21
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Expires: 1997-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A transverse gas flow system in combination with physically displaced electrical dissociation and electrical excitation means permits increased pulse repetition rates resulting in increased average power output from a metal halide laser apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Hundstad
- 👤 Lelland A. C. Weaver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/031; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0971
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
In a metal halide laser system, the combination of: a laser housing containing a metal halide gas laser medium, flow means for establishing a predetermined flow rate of said metal halide gas laser medium through said housing, dissociation electrode means positioned at a first location in the flow of said metal halide gas laser medium in said laser housing, excitation electrode means positioned at a second location downstream from said dissociation electrode means at a predetermined distance from said dissociation electrode means, said predetermined flow rate and said predetermined distance defining a drift time of the flow of said metal halide laser gas medium between said dissociation electrode means and said excitation electrode means, a first electrical excitation means operably connected to said dissociation electrode means to produce molecular dissociation of the flowing metal halide laser gas medium and generate metastable atoms at a laser level above ground, said predetermined flow rate and said predetermined distance between said dissociation electrode means and said excitation electrode means producing relaxation of said atoms to a ground state at said second location, second electrical excitation means operably connected to said excitation electrode means to create a population inversion in said flowing metal halide laser gas medium, and optical means positioned relative to said excitation electrode means to define an optical laser cavity for extracting laser output light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
In a metal halide laser system, the combination of: a laser housing containing a metal halide gas laser medium, flow means for establishing a predetermined flow rate of said metal halide gas laser medium through said housing, dissociation electrode means positioned at a first location in the flow of said metal halide gas laser medium in said laser housing, excitation electrode means positioned at a second location downstream from said dissociation electrode means at a predetermined distance from said dissociation electrode means, said predetermined flow rate and said predetermined distance defining a drift time of the flow of said metal halide laser gas medium between said dissociation electrode means and said excitation electrode means, a first electrical excitation means operably connected to said dissociation electrode means to produce molecular dissociation of the flowing metal halide laser gas medium and generate metastable atoms at a laser level above ground, said predetermined flow rate and said predetermined distance between said dissociation electrode means and said excitation electrode means producing relaxation of said atoms to a ground state at said second location, second electrical excitation means operably connected to said excitation electrode means to create a population inversion in said flowing metal halide laser gas medium, and optical means positioned relative to said excitation electrode means to define an optical laser cavity for extracting laser output light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a metal halide laser apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said excitation electrode means is spaced apart from dissociation electrode means to a distance to establish a drift time of approximately 50 microseconds at said predetermined flow rate of said metal halide gas laser medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a metal halide laser apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical excitation means connected to said excitation electrode means consists of a pulsed dc excitation source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a metal halide laser apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pulsed dc excitation source excites said excitation electrodes at a pulse repetition rate such that the period between pulses corresponds to said drift time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a metal halide laser apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said excitation electrodes are spaced apart electrodes defining a laser discharge volume therebetween, said excitation electrodes extending for a length in the direction of said flow of said metal halide laser gas medium such that at said predetermined flow rate of the gas the transport time of the atoms for the dissociation electrode means to the downstream edge of the excitation electrodes results in the recombination of the metal halide atoms at said excitation electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a metal halide laser apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said predetermined flow rate and said length of said excitation electrodes establishes a transport time of the atoms from the dissociation electrode means to the downstream edge of the excitation electrodes of approximately 250 microseconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a metal halide laser apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said excitation electrodes are planar electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a metal halide laser apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said excitation electrode means consists of spaced-apart excitation electrodes defining a discharge volume therebetween, at least one of said excitation electrodes consisting of pin electrodes separated in a downstream direction of said flow of said metal halide laser gas medium at distances corresponding approximately to said drift time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a metal halide laser apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said electrical excitation means connected to said excitation electrode means consists of a pulsed DC excitation source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3619812A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-11-20 | 1982-05-22 | 1982-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-20 | 1986-05-22 | 1986-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-20 | 1990-05-22 | 1990-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |