Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A plasma generator comprising: a continuous wave, high power laser, focusing means for focusing radiation of said laser to an irradiance high enough to sustain a plasma, means for igniting said plasma, gas flow means adapted for directing gas at a controllable, variable velocity in the direction of and uniformly dispersed within said laser beam, said laser beam being coaxial with the flow of gas, and wherein said gas flow restrains plasma motion up the laser beam in response to the variation in gas velocity for controlling plasma temperature and position in the laser beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A plasma generator comprising: a continuous wave, high power laser, focusing means for focusing radiation of said laser to an irradiance high enough to sustain a plasma, means for igniting said plasma, gas flow means adapted for directing gas at a controllable, variable velocity in the direction of and uniformly dispersed within said laser beam, said laser beam being coaxial with the flow of gas, and wherein said gas flow restrains plasma motion up the laser beam in response to the variation in gas velocity for controlling plasma temperature and position in the laser beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A plasma generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the gas employed in the gas flow device may be any from the group of atomic, molecular, or vapor gases.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A plasma generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gas contains added particulates.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for controlling the position of a plasma in a laser beam for controlling the irradiance of the plasma by the beam and the temperature range of the plasma and comprising the steps of: directing a high energy laser beam through a gas flow device to a focal plane; flowing gas coaxially with said laser beam uniformly through said gas-flow device; initiating a plasma in said laser beam at said focal plane; maintaining laser beam radiation at an intensity to sustain said plasma; and varying the velocity of said gas flow to restrain motion of said plasma toward the laser source.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for controlling the position of a plasma in a laser beam for controlling the irradiance of the plasma by the beam and the temperature range of the plasma and comprising the steps of: directing a high energy laser beam through a gas flow device to a focal plane; flowing gas coaxially with said laser beam uniformly through said gas-flow device; initiating a plasma in said laser beam at said focal plane; maintaining laser beam radiation at an intensity to sustain said plasma; and varying the velocity of said gas flow to restrain motion of said plasma toward the laser source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method for controlling the position of plasma as set forth in claim 4 and further comprising the steps of selectably increasing the velocity of gas flow to force the plasma toward the laser focal plane and thereby increase the plasma temperature; and decreasing the velocity of gas flow to allow plasma motion up the beam and a resultant decrease in plasma temperature.