Patent US4334199A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4334199A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Excimer laser
Assignee: University of Rochester
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Filing: 1978-10-27
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Granted: 1982-06-08
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Expires: 1998-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A gas laser is described which has as laser medium, a polyatomic excimer. Such a excimer is formed in a termolecular reaction between atomic particles which are raised to a metastable state by a pulse of electrical energy and a molecule which forms a complex with the excited metastable particle when a third particle or body interacts therewith to promote the termolecular reaction. After formation in the excited state and subsequent emission of coherent radiation, the particles and molecules return to the initial species.
Inventors
- 👤 David O. Ham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:54
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/14; H01S3/22; H01S3/223; H01S3/225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
In a gas laser, apparatus comprising a chamber containing a mixture of at least three molecular species which produce a polyatomic excimer laser medium in a termolecular reaction when excited to raise at least one of said species to a metastable state, and means coupled to said mixture for exciting said species to said metastable state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a gas laser, apparatus comprising a chamber containing a mixture of at least three molecular species which produce a polyatomic excimer laser medium in a termolecular reaction when excited to raise at least one of said species to a metastable state, and means coupled to said mixture for exciting said species to said metastable state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one species is a rare gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rare gas is selected from the group consisting of Xe, Kr and Ar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein a second of said species is a molecule which forms a bonding interaction for complex formation with said rare gas when said rare gas is in its metastable state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein a second of said species is a molecule which forms a bonding interaction for complex formation with an alkali metal in its ground state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as set forth in claims 4 or 5 wherein said second species is selected from the group which consist of SO 2 , CO 2 , NO, NO 2 , O 2 and NH 3 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein the third of said species is a noble gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said one species is Xe, said second species is O 2 , and said third species is He.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said one species, said second species and said third species are in the ratio of about 7.5:1.5:750 at a pressure of about 1400 Torr.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said exciting means comprises means for exciting the gas mixture by electrical energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said exciting means includes electrode means coupled to said chamber for producing electrical pulse discharges in said mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a laser, a chamber containing a laser medium consisting of a polyatomic complex RM* where R is a rare gas in an excited state and M is a molecular gas in a ground state, and means for coupling pulses of electrical energy to raise said rare gas to said excited state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a laser, a chamber containing a laser medium consisting of a polyatomic complex RM* where R is a rare gas in an excited state and M is a molecular gas in a ground state, and means for coupling pulses of electrical energy to raise said rare gas to said excited state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as set forth in claim 12 wherein said rare gas is selected from Xe, Ar and Kr and said gas molecule is selected from SO 2 , CO 2 , NO, NO 2 , O 2 and NH 3 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention as set forth in claim 13 wherein said molecular gas and rare gas are maintained under pressure above atmospheric pressure in said chamber by a noble gas which is present in said container in much larger proportion than said molecular gas and said rare gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14 wherein said rare gas is Xe, said molecular gas is O 2 and said noble gas is He, where the proportion of He:Xe:O 2 is about 750:7.5:1.5 and the pressure in said container exceeds one atmosphere.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
101 words
A laser for producing coherent radiation comprising a pair of spaced apart reflectors forming a resonant cavity for reflecting coherent radiation, an envelope disposed along an optical path between said mirrors, said envelope having end windows transparent to the coherent radiation, and means for producing in said envelope a laser medium containing a polyatomic excimer RM* where R is a rare gas in a metastable state and M consists of a molecular gas selected from O 2 NO, NO 2 , NH 3 CO 2 and SO 2 which emits the coherent radiation in said cavity and along said optical path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
101 words
A laser for producing coherent radiation comprising a pair of spaced apart reflectors forming a resonant cavity for reflecting coherent radiation, an envelope disposed along an optical path between said mirrors, said envelope having end windows transparent to the coherent radiation, and means for producing in said envelope a laser medium containing a polyatomic excimer RM* where R is a rare gas in a metastable state and M consists of a molecular gas selected from O 2 NO, NO 2 , NH 3 CO 2 and SO 2 which emits the coherent radiation in said cavity and along said optical path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said producing means comprises a mixture of said rare gas R and said gas M and a noble gas which is of a different species from said rare gas, and means for applying an electrical pulse to said gas to excite said rare gas to metastable state, the termolecular reaction product of which with said gas M and said noble gas is said polyatomic excimer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
The invention as set forth in claim 17 wherein in said mixture, said rare gas is Xe, said gas M is O 2 and said noble gas is He, said Xe being in larger proportions than said O 2 in said mixture and said He being in much larger proportion in said mixture than Xe and O 2 and being at a pressure greater than one atmosphere.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-06-07 | 1985-12-07 | 1986-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-07 | 1989-12-07 | 1990-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-07 | 1993-12-07 | 1994-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |