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US4438513A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Short wavelength free electron laser using low energy electrons

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1981-01-26
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Granted: 1984-03-20
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Expires: 2001-01-26
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for constructing a continuous wave (CW) free elect laser (FEL) system capable of providing tunable high power laser radiation at short wavelengths using low-energy recirculating DC electron beams. This method replaces the static periodic magnetic field used in conventional FEL systems with an equivalently intense and continuous electromagnetic pump field having spatial periodicity less than 1 cm. The pump field is generated by a low-energy recirculated DC electron beam interacting with a transverse static periodic magnetic field.

Inventors

  • 👤 Luis R. Elias
  • 👤 John M. J. Madey
  • 👤 Todd I. Smith

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 21:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/0903

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 136 words
A continously tunable apparatus for the production of intense coherent optical radiation comprising: (a) a laser cavity resonator, said resonator having a longitudinal optical axis and two opposed mirrors aligned at opposite ends of said axis to reflect radiation generated in said resonator; (b) means for producing a first DC velocity modulated electron beam and directing said first electron beam along said axis of said resonator; (c) means for establishing a static periodic magnetic field uniformly transverse to and symmetric about a portion of said axis of said cavity resonator and through which said first DC velocity modulated electron beam passes, said first DC velocity modulated electron beam and said static periodic magnetic field interacting to produce a tunable intense continuous electromagnetic pump field oscillating between said mirrors and along said optical axis of said cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 136 words
A continously tunable apparatus for the production of intense coherent optical radiation comprising: (a) a laser cavity resonator, said resonator having a longitudinal optical axis and two opposed mirrors aligned at opposite ends of said axis to reflect radiation generated in said resonator; (b) means for producing a first DC velocity modulated electron beam and directing said first electron beam along said axis of said resonator; (c) means for establishing a static periodic magnetic field uniformly transverse to and symmetric about a portion of said axis of said cavity resonator and through which said first DC velocity modulated electron beam passes, said first DC velocity modulated electron beam and said static periodic magnetic field interacting to produce a tunable intense continuous electromagnetic pump field oscillating between said mirrors and along said optical axis of said cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 122 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 having interacting means which include: (a) means for generating a second DC velocity modulated electron beam and directing said second electron beam opposite said intense electromagnetic pump field along said optical axis of said cavity resonator; and (b) means for providing an optical input wave introduced along said axis of said cavity resonator in the same direction as said second DC velocity modulated electron beam whereby said intense electromagnetic pump field, said second DC velocity modulated electron beam and said optical wave interact to produce stimulated emission of short wavelength high energy optical radiation by said optical wave at a predetermined frequency wherein said optical radiation may be extracted via transmitting apertures in said mirrors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said generating means includes a second pair of electrostatic accelerators operably connected such that said second DC velocity modulated electron beam is a low-energy recirculated electron beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said producing means includes a pair of electrostatic accelerators operably connected such that said first DC velocity modulated electron beam is a low-energy recirculated electron beam.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3822410A Cited
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US4077017A Cited
US4047125A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-03-20 1987-09-19 1988-03-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-03-20 1991-09-19 1992-03-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-03-20 1995-09-19 1996-03-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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