Patent US4264877A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4264877A
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US
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Apparatus for producing tunable intense coherent radiation in the vicinity 628 cm.-1
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1978-02-21
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Granted: 1981-04-28
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Expires: 1998-02-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for producing tunable intense coherent radiation at approximately 628 cm. -1 with a line width less than 0.1 cm. -1 . The apparatus includes an optical cavity containing a vapor cell and pumping means including at least one optical pumping source for directing energy at the cavity. In one embodiment the cavity encloses a material capable of stimulated emission in response to said pumping. The material has at least three atomic energy levels with at least a first and second atomic energy level separated by a particular energy quantum approximately equal to 628 cm -1 ; a transition from said first to said second atomic energy level favored over all other possible transitions from said first atomic energy level; said third atomic energy level, from which atoms can be pumped to said first atomic energy level in response to said pumping means. While this is consistent with classical laser operation the apparatus disclosed herein can also be used for stimulated Raman scattering. Tunability is achieved by tuning the pumping sources in the case of stimulated Raman scattering, or with the aid of the Zeeman or Stark effects for classical laser operation. Typical materials are potassium or strontium vapors. Several pumping arrangements are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel R. Grischkowsky
- 👤 Rodney T. Hodgson
- 👤 Peter P. Sorokin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/14; H01S3/22; H01S3/227; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/30; H01S3/305
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A source of intense coherent radiation in the range of 620 cm. -1 to 632 cm. -1 comprising: a potassium vapor containing cavity defined by walls transmissive of pumping and emitted energy, pumping means including at least one optical pumping source for pumping said potassium to a 6D3/2 level to establish an inverted population density at said 6D3/2 potassium level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A source of intense coherent radiation in the range of 620 cm. -1 to 632 cm. -1 comprising: a potassium vapor containing cavity defined by walls transmissive of pumping and emitted energy, pumping means including at least one optical pumping source for pumping said potassium to a 6D3/2 level to establish an inverted population density at said 6D3/2 potassium level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said pumping means includes first pump means to populate a 4P1/2 level and second pump means to excite potassium from said 4P1/2 level to said 6D3/2 level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first and second pump means comprise first and second dye lasers and nitrogen laser means for synchronously pumping said first and second dye lasers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which includes means for applying an electric or magnetic field to potassium within said cavity whereby tuning is achieved by selecting the amplitude of said electric or magnetic field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which said means for applying a field comprises means for applying an electric field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which said means for applying a field comprises means for applying a magnetic field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said pumping means further includes an electrically pumped discharge tube surrounding said cavity emitting at 7699.0 A.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said pumping means further includes a heat pipe means for emitting incoherently at 7699 A.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
An off-resonance pumped source of intense coherent radiation in the range of 620 cm. -1 to 632 cm. -1 comprising a potassium vapor containing cavity defined by walls transmissive of pumping and emitted energy, pumping means including at least one optical pumping source for exciting potassium in said cavity slightly off resonance of a 4P1/2 to 6D3/2 transition. whereby tuning is achieved by varying the difference between energy emitted by said pumping means and resonant pumping.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
An off-resonance pumped source of intense coherent radiation in the range of 620 cm. -1 to 632 cm. -1 comprising a potassium vapor containing cavity defined by walls transmissive of pumping and emitted energy, pumping means including at least one optical pumping source for exciting potassium in said cavity slightly off resonance of a 4P1/2 to 6D3/2 transition. whereby tuning is achieved by varying the difference between energy emitted by said pumping means and resonant pumping.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said pumping means includes first pump means to excite said potassium to said 4P1/2 level and second pump means to excite potassium by energy slightly off resonant from said 4P1/2 to 6D3/2 transition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said second pump means excites potassium with energy about 2 cm. -1 different from that necessary for a 4P1/2 to 6D3/2 transition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said pumping means includes means to induce a two photon excitation process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said pumping means includes means to induce a three photon excitation process.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said source is tunable and in which said pumping means includes a tunable optical pumping source for exciting potassium off-resonance of said 4P1/2 to 6D3/2 transition by a variable quantity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said pumping means includes first pump means to excite said potassium off-resonant of a 4S1/2 to 4P1/2 transition by a selectable amount, and second pump means to excite said potassium off-resonant of a 4P1/2 to 6D3/2 transition by a selectable amount, whereby resultant excitation of said first and second pump means produces energy in the form of a Stokes photon at a level in the vicinity of 628 cm. -1 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A source of intense coherent radiation in the range of 620 cm. -1 to 632 cm. -1 comprising a strontium vapor containing cavity defined by walls transmissive of pumping and emitted energy, puming means including at least one optical pumping source for pumping said strontium to a 5s5d'D level, to establish an inverted population density at said 5s5d'D level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
A source of intense coherent radiation in the range of 620 cm. -1 to 632 cm. -1 comprising a strontium vapor containing cavity defined by walls transmissive of pumping and emitted energy, puming means including at least one optical pumping source for pumping said strontium to a 5s5d'D level, to establish an inverted population density at said 5s5d'D level.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 16 in which said pumping means comprises first pump means to populate a 5s5p 'Po level and second pump means to excite strontium from said 5s5p 'Po level to said 5s5d 'D level.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said first pump means comprises an electrically pumped heat pipe discharge tube, and said second pump means comprises a laser directing pulsed optical energy at said cavity to populate said 5s5d 'D level from said populated 5s5d 'Po level.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 16 which further comprises means for applying an electric or magnetic field to said strontium in said cavity, whereby tuning is achieved by selecting the amplitude of said electric or magnetic field.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in which said means for applying an electric or magnetic field produces an electric field.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in which said means for applying an electric or magnetic field produces a magnetic field.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
An off resonance pumped source of intense coherent radiation in the range 620 cm. -1 to 632 cm. -1 comprising a strontium vapor containing cavity defind by walls transmissive of puming and emitted energy, puming means including at least one optical pumping source for exciting stronitum in said cavity slightly off resonance of a 5s5p 'Po to 5s5d 'D transition.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
An off resonance pumped source of intense coherent radiation in the range 620 cm. -1 to 632 cm. -1 comprising a strontium vapor containing cavity defind by walls transmissive of puming and emitted energy, puming means including at least one optical pumping source for exciting stronitum in said cavity slightly off resonance of a 5s5p 'Po to 5s5d 'D transition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 22 in which said pumping means includes first pump means to excite strontium to said 5s5p 'Po level and second pump means to excite strontium by energy off resonant from said 5s5p 'Po to 5s5d 'D transition.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 22 in which said pumping means includes means to induce a two photon excitation process.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 22 in which said pumping means includes means to induce a three photon excitation process.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 22 which comprises a tunable source and in which said pumping means comprises a tunable optical pumping source for exciting strontium off-resonance of said 5s5p 'Po to 5s5d 'D transition by a variable quantity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-04-27 | 1984-10-27 | 1985-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-04-27 | 1988-10-27 | 1989-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-04-27 | 1992-10-27 | 1993-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |