US4189686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination free electron and gaseous laser
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1977-09-27
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Granted: 1980-02-19
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Expires: 1997-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A multiple laser having one or more gaseous laser stages and one or more free electron stages. Each of the free electron laser stages is sequentially pumped by a microwave linear accelerator. Subsequently, the electron beam is directed through a gaseous laser, in the preferred embodiment, and in an alternative embodiment, through a microwave accelerator to lower the energy level of the electron beam to pump one or more gaseous lasers. The combination laser provides high pulse repetition frequencies, on the order of 1 kHz or greater, high power capability, high efficiency, and tunability in the synchronous production of multiple beams of coherent optical radiation.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles A. Brau
- 👤 Stephen D. Rockwood
- 👤 William E. Stein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/09707; H01S3/0903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A high pulse repetition frequency, high power, combination ultraviolet and tunable infrared laser comprising: microwave linear accelerator means for producing a relativistic electron beam; free electron laser means for producing tunable infrared radiation in response to interaction of said relativistic electron beam with a spatially periodic magnetic field; gaseous molecular laser means for producing ultraviolet radiation in response to said relativistic electron beam; means for sequentially directing said relativistic electron beam through said free electron laser means and said gaseous molecular laser means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A high pulse repetition frequency, high power, combination ultraviolet and tunable infrared laser comprising: microwave linear accelerator means for producing a relativistic electron beam; free electron laser means for producing tunable infrared radiation in response to interaction of said relativistic electron beam with a spatially periodic magnetic field; gaseous molecular laser means for producing ultraviolet radiation in response to said relativistic electron beam; means for sequentially directing said relativistic electron beam through said free electron laser means and said gaseous molecular laser means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination laser of claim 1 wherein said free electron laser means comprises a free electron laser amplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination laser of claim 1 wherein said free electron means comprises a free electron laser oscillator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination laser of claim 1 wherein said gaseous molecular laser means comprises a gaseous molecular laser amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination laser of claim 1 wherein said gaseous molecular laser means comprises a gaseous molecular laser generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination laser of claim 2 wherein said gaseous molecular laser means comprises a gaseous molecular laser amplifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination laser of claim 3 wherein said gaseous molecular laser means comprises a gaseous molecular laser amplifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination laser of claim 2 wherein said gaseous molecular laser means comprises a gaseous molecular laser oscillator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination laser of claim 3 wherein said gaseous molecular laser means comprises a gaseous molecular laser oscillator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination laser of claim 1 wherein said means for sequentially directing said electron beam comprises a plurality of turning magnets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination laser of claim 1 wherein said relativistic electron beam has an energy level of approximately 10 MeV.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination laser of claim 1 wherein said free electron laser means is formed from a waveguide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
A high pulse repetition frequency, high power, multiple laser for producing at least two coherent output beams comprising: microwave linear accelerator means for producing a relativistic electron beam; means for directing said electron beam through free electron laser means having a spatially periodic magnetic field for interaction with said relativistic electron beam to produce a first coherent output beam; means for directing said electron beam from said free electron laser means through a gaseous laser to produce a second coherent output beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
A high pulse repetition frequency, high power, multiple laser for producing at least two coherent output beams comprising: microwave linear accelerator means for producing a relativistic electron beam; means for directing said electron beam through free electron laser means having a spatially periodic magnetic field for interaction with said relativistic electron beam to produce a first coherent output beam; means for directing said electron beam from said free electron laser means through a gaseous laser to produce a second coherent output beam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multiple laser of claim 13 wherein said first coherent output beam produced by said free electron means comprises a tunable infrared beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multiple laser of claim 13 wherein said second coherent output beam produced by said gaseous laser comprises an ultraviolet beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A multiple laser for producing a plurality of coherent optical radiation signals comprising: microwave linear accelerator means for producing a relativistic electron beam; free electron laser means for producing coherent optical radiation in response to interaction of said relativistic electron beam with a spatially periodic magnetic field; gaseous laser means for producing coherent optical radiation in response to said relativistic electron beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
A multiple laser for producing a plurality of coherent optical radiation signals comprising: microwave linear accelerator means for producing a relativistic electron beam; free electron laser means for producing coherent optical radiation in response to interaction of said relativistic electron beam with a spatially periodic magnetic field; gaseous laser means for producing coherent optical radiation in response to said relativistic electron beam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 further comprising means for sequentially directing said relativistic electron beam through said free electron laser means and said gaseous laser means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said free electron laser means comprises a plurality of free electron laser oscillators.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said free electron laser means comprises a plurality of free electron laser amplifiers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said free electron laser means comprises a combination of free electron laser oscillators and free electron laser amplifiers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said gaseous laser means comprises a gaseous laser amplifier.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said gaseous laser means comprises a gaseous laser oscillator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said free electron laser means comprises at least one waveguide laser.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said coherent optical radiation produced by said free electron laser means comprises ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said coherent optical radiation produced by said free electron laser means comprises variable radiation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said coherent optical radiation produced by said free electron laser comprises infrared radiation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said coherent optical radiation produced by said free electron laser comprises a combination of infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said coherent optical radiation produced by said free electron laser comprises a combination of ultraviolet and visible radiation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said coherent optical radiation produced by said free electron laser comprises a combination of infrared and visible radiation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said coherent optical radiation produced by said free electron laser comprises a combination of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said coherent optical radiation produced by said gaseous laser means comprises infrared radiation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said coherent optical radiation produced by said gaseous laser means comprises visible radiation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 wherein said coherent optical radiation produced by said gaseous laser means comprises ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
55 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 further comprising: passive microwave resonant cavities disposed between said free electron laser means and said gaseous laser means; and, additional linear accelerator means for injecting an electron beam into said passive microwave resonant cavities, out of phase with said relativistic electron beam produced by said microwave linear accelerator means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 further comprising: passive microwave resonant cavities disposed between said free electron laser means and said gaseous laser means; and, a microwave feedback loop connected between said passive microwave resonant cavities and said microwave linear accelerator means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
81 words
The multiple laser of claim 16 further comprising: passive microwave resonant cavities disposed between said free electron laser means and said gaseous laser means for reducing the voltage of said relativistic electron beam emitted from said free electron laser means; means for channeling microwave radiation produced by said passive microwave resonant cavities in response to said relativistic electron beam; additional linear accelerator means for producing an additional relativistic electron beam in response to microwave radiation channeled from said voltage reducing cavities.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3665336A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-02-18 | 1983-08-20 | 1984-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-02-18 | 1987-08-20 | 1988-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-02-18 | 1991-08-20 | 1992-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |