US4538275A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Synergistic quasi-free electron laser
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1984-02-27
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Granted: 1985-08-27
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Expires: 2004-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A synergistic quasi-free electron laser for generating infrared radiation. The laser includes a means for producing a volume of ionized gas plasma, a means for directing an electron beam through the gas plasma in a first direction, and a means for directing a laser pump beam into the gas plasma in a second direction opposite to the first direction to produce synergistic bunching of the electron beam and the ionized gas plasma. A portion of the laser pump beam is backscattered by the bunched electron beam and gas plasma to form an output beam having a frequency up-shifted from that of the laser pump beam. The frequency of the output beam may be tuned by changing the velocity of the electron beam.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold H. Szu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:18
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/0903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An infrared radiation generator device comprising: means for producing a volume of ionized gas plasma; means for directing an electron beam through said gas plasma in a first direction; and means for directing a laser pump beam into said gas plasma in a second direction opposite said first direction to produce synergistic bunching of said electron beam and said gas plasma; said synergistically bunched electron beam and gas plasma acting to backscatter a portion of said laser pump beam to form an output beam; said output beam having a frequency Ω 1 as given by: ##EQU7## where: Ω o is the frequency of said laser pump beam; V ob is the velocity of said electron beam; and c is the free space velocity of light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
An infrared radiation generator device comprising: means for producing a volume of ionized gas plasma; means for directing an electron beam through said gas plasma in a first direction; and means for directing a laser pump beam into said gas plasma in a second direction opposite said first direction to produce synergistic bunching of said electron beam and said gas plasma; said synergistically bunched electron beam and gas plasma acting to backscatter a portion of said laser pump beam to form an output beam; said output beam having a frequency Ω 1 as given by: ##EQU7## where: Ω o is the frequency of said laser pump beam; V ob is the velocity of said electron beam; and c is the free space velocity of light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 1, which further comprises: means for varying the velocity of said electron beam, the frequency of said output beam varying in response to variations in the velocity of said electron beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 1, wherein the synergistic backscattering growth rate Γ syn of said output beam is given by: ##EQU8## where: m b is the density of said electron beam; m p is the density of said gas plasma; V os is the quiver velocity of said electron beam; c is the free space velocity of light; Ω o is the frequency of said laser pump beam; and ω op is the frequency of said gas plasma.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for producing said volume of ionized gas plasma comprises: an interaction chamber; means for filling said interaction chamber with an ionizable gas; and means for ionizing said ionizable gas in said interaction chamber to produce said ionized gas plasma.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 4, wherein said ionizable gas comprises an inert gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 4, wherein said ionizable gas comprises a hydrocarbon containing gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 4, wherein said interaction chamber comprises: means integral with said interaction chamber for allowing the passage of said electron beam through said interaction chamber; and window means integral with said interaction chamber for transmitting said laser pump beam into said interaction chamber and for transmitting said output beam out of said interaction chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for directing said laser pump beam comprises: laser means for generating said laser pump beam; and means for transmitting said laser pump beam into said ionized gas plasma.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 8, wherein said laser means comprises a CO 2 infrared laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for transmitting comprises: mirror means coupled to receive the pump laser beam output of said laser means for redirecting said pump laser beam to pass through said window means into said interaction chamber, said mirror means being at least partially transparent to the passage of radiation at the frequency of said output beam, said output beam passing through said mirror means after being transmitted by said window means out of said interaction chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for directing said electron beam comprises: electron beam generator means for generating said electron beam; and electron lens means coupled to receive said electron beam from said electron beam generator means for focusing said electron beam into said gas plasma.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for directing said laser pump beam comprises: laser means for generating said laser pump beam; and means for transmitting said laser pump beam into said ionized gas plasma.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 12, wherein said laser means comprises a CO 2 infrared laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
149 words
An infrared radiation generator device comprising: means for producing a volume of ionized gas plasma; means for directing an electron beam through said gas plasma in a first direction; and means for directing a laser pump beam into said gas plasma in a second direction opposite said first direction to produce synergistic bunching of said electron beam and said gas plasma; said synergistically bunched electron beam and gas plasma acting to backscatter a portion of said laser pump beam to form an output beam having a growth rate Γ syn given by: ##EQU9## where: m b is the density of said electron beam m p is the density of said gas plasma; V os is the quiver velocity of said electron beam; c is the free-space velocity of light; Ω o is the frequency of said laser pump beam; and ω op is the frequency of said gas plasma.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
149 words
An infrared radiation generator device comprising: means for producing a volume of ionized gas plasma; means for directing an electron beam through said gas plasma in a first direction; and means for directing a laser pump beam into said gas plasma in a second direction opposite said first direction to produce synergistic bunching of said electron beam and said gas plasma; said synergistically bunched electron beam and gas plasma acting to backscatter a portion of said laser pump beam to form an output beam having a growth rate Γ syn given by: ##EQU9## where: m b is the density of said electron beam m p is the density of said gas plasma; V os is the quiver velocity of said electron beam; c is the free-space velocity of light; Ω o is the frequency of said laser pump beam; and ω op is the frequency of said gas plasma.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
The infrared radiation generator device as recited in claim 14, which further comprises: means for varying the velocity of said electron beam and for varying the frequency of said output beam as given by: ##EQU10## where: Ω 1 is the frequency of said output beam; Ω o is the frequency of said laser pump beam; V ob is the velocity of said electron beam; and c is the free-space velocity of light.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of generating infrared radiation, which comprises the steps of: providing a volume of ionized gas plasma; directing an electron beam through said gas plasma in a first direction; and directing a laser pump beam into said gas plasma in a second direction opposite said first direction to produce synergistic bunching of said electron beam and said gas plasma; said synergistically bunched electron beam and gas plasma acting to backscatter a portion of said laser pump beam to form an output beam having a growth rate Γ syn given by: ##EQU11## where: m b is the density of said electron beam; m p is the density of said gas plasma; V os is the quiver velocity of said electron beam; c is the free-space velocity of light; Ω o is the frequency of said laser pump beam; and ω op is the frequency of said gas plasma.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of generating infrared radiation, which comprises the steps of: providing a volume of ionized gas plasma; directing an electron beam through said gas plasma in a first direction; and directing a laser pump beam into said gas plasma in a second direction opposite said first direction to produce synergistic bunching of said electron beam and said gas plasma; said synergistically bunched electron beam and gas plasma acting to backscatter a portion of said laser pump beam to form an output beam having a growth rate Γ syn given by: ##EQU11## where: m b is the density of said electron beam; m p is the density of said gas plasma; V os is the quiver velocity of said electron beam; c is the free-space velocity of light; Ω o is the frequency of said laser pump beam; and ω op is the frequency of said gas plasma.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of generating infrared radiation as recited in claim 16, which further comprises the step of: adjusting the frequency of said output beam by adjusting the velocity of said electron beam as given by: ##EQU12## where: Ω 1 is the frequency of said output beam; Ω o is the frequency of said laser pump beam; V ob is the velocity of said electron beam; and c is the free-space velocity of light.
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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) | 1988-08-26 | 1989-02-25 | 1989-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-26 | 1993-02-25 | 1993-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-26 | 1997-02-25 | 1997-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |