US4390992A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plasma channel optical pumping device and method
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1981-07-17
•
Granted: 1983-06-28
•
Expires: 2001-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A device and method for optically pumping a gaseous laser using blackbody radiation produced by a plasma channel which is formed from an electrical discharge between two electrodes spaced at opposite longitudinal ends of the laser. A preionization device which can comprise a laser or electron beam accelerator produces a preionization beam which is sufficient to cause an electrical discharge between the electrodes to initiate the plasma channel along the preionization path. The optical pumping energy is supplied by a high voltage power supply rather than by the preionization beam. High output optical intensities are produced by the laser due to the high temperature blackbody radiation produced by the plasma channel, in the same manner as an exploding wire type laser. However, unlike the exploding wire type laser, the disclosed invention can be operated in a repetitive manner by utilizing a repetitive pulsed preionization device.
Inventors
- 👤 O'Dean P. Judd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An optical pumping device for a repetitively operated gaseous laser comprising: a gaseous lasing medium; electrodes disposed in said gaseous lasing medium; means for providing an electrical potential between said electrodes; laser means for generating a repetitive pulsed laser beam which produces a substantially uniform longitudinal preionization path in said gaseous lasing medium in the axial direction of said laser between said electrodes sufficient to cause said electrical potential to produce an electrical discharge between said electrodes to form a plasma channel along said preionizatoin path, said plasma channel having sufficient blackbody radiation determined by said means for providing an electrical potential to optically pump said lasing medium in a repetitive manner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical pumping device for a repetitively operated gaseous laser comprising: a gaseous lasing medium; electrodes disposed in said gaseous lasing medium; means for providing an electrical potential between said electrodes; laser means for generating a repetitive pulsed laser beam which produces a substantially uniform longitudinal preionization path in said gaseous lasing medium in the axial direction of said laser between said electrodes sufficient to cause said electrical potential to produce an electrical discharge between said electrodes to form a plasma channel along said preionizatoin path, said plasma channel having sufficient blackbody radiation determined by said means for providing an electrical potential to optically pump said lasing medium in a repetitive manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said gaseous laser medium comprises I 2 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said gaseous laser medium comprises XeF.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said gaseous laser medium comprises I.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said gaseous laser medium comprises S 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said gaseous laser medium comprises XeO.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said gaseous laser medium comprises HgBr.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
113 words
A device for optically pumping a lasing medium in a repetitive manner in a gaseous laser comprising: electrodes disposed within said lasing medium at opposite longitudinal ends of said laser; means for providing an electrical potential between said electrodes; accelerator means for generating a pulsed electron beam which produces a sufficiently uniform longitudinal preionization path along the axial direction of said laser between said electrodes to cause said electrical potential to produce an electrical discharge between said electrodes to form a substantially uniform plasma channel along said preionization path, said substantially uniform plasma channel having sufficient blackbody radiation determined by said means for providing an electrical potential to optically pump said lasing medium.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
113 words
A device for optically pumping a lasing medium in a repetitive manner in a gaseous laser comprising: electrodes disposed within said lasing medium at opposite longitudinal ends of said laser; means for providing an electrical potential between said electrodes; accelerator means for generating a pulsed electron beam which produces a sufficiently uniform longitudinal preionization path along the axial direction of said laser between said electrodes to cause said electrical potential to produce an electrical discharge between said electrodes to form a substantially uniform plasma channel along said preionization path, said substantially uniform plasma channel having sufficient blackbody radiation determined by said means for providing an electrical potential to optically pump said lasing medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said gaseous lasing medium comprises I 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said gaseous lasing medium comprises XeF.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said gaseous lasing medium comprises I.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said gaseous lasing medium comprises S 2 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said gaseous lasing medium comprises XeO.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said gaseous lasing medium comprises HgBr.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of optically pumping a repetitively operated gaseous laser comprising: placing electrodes at opposite axial ends of said gaseous laser in a predetermined gaseous lasing medium; providing an electrical potential between said electrodes; producing a substantially uniform repetitive preionization path in said predetermined gaseous lasing medium in the axial direction of said laser between said electrodes; providing an electrical potential between said electrodes having sufficient magnitude and current to produce a plasma channel between said electrodes, guided by said preionization path, having a blackbody temperature which is capable of optically pumping said gaseous lasing medium.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of optically pumping a repetitively operated gaseous laser comprising: placing electrodes at opposite axial ends of said gaseous laser in a predetermined gaseous lasing medium; providing an electrical potential between said electrodes; producing a substantially uniform repetitive preionization path in said predetermined gaseous lasing medium in the axial direction of said laser between said electrodes; providing an electrical potential between said electrodes having sufficient magnitude and current to produce a plasma channel between said electrodes, guided by said preionization path, having a blackbody temperature which is capable of optically pumping said gaseous lasing medium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3271696A
Cited
US3309620A
Cited
US3149372A
Cited
US3163799A
Cited
US3646471A
Cited
US3414838A
Cited
US3715596A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-27 | 1986-12-27 | 1987-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-27 | 1990-12-27 | 1991-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-27 | 1994-12-27 | 1995-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |