US4704583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Light amplifiers employing collisions to produce a population inversion
Assignee: PATLEX Corp A CORP OF PA
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Filing: 1977-08-11
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Granted: 1987-11-03
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Expires: 1997-08-11
Abstract
Abstract This application discloses light amplification apparatus in which population inversion is created in which energized particles collide with a lasing medium to create a population inversion. In the preferred embodiment the energized particles are atoms, ions, or molecules different than the lasing medium which are excited to a long-lived state above the ground state. Various materials usable in such light amplification apparatus are disclosed as well as means for passing light through an amplification region.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon Gould
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:38
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Light amplification apparatus including a bounded volume containing a substance, the atoms, ions or molecules of which have well defined energy states, including a pair of states which differ in energy by an amount corresponding to light frequencies; means for providing other particles within said bounded volume which have the proper energy so as to be susceptible of transferring said energy to said atoms, ions or molecules, upon collision, thereby producing a greater population of atoms, ions or molecules of said substance in the higher of said pair of states; and means for defining a light path through said bounded volume which enables a stimulating light beam to selectively stimulate emission of light in said bounded volume, said light thus emitted having the same direction, frequency phase and polarization as the stimulating light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Light amplification apparatus including a bounded volume containing a substance, the atoms, ions or molecules of which have well defined energy states, including a pair of states which differ in energy by an amount corresponding to light frequencies; means for providing other particles within said bounded volume which have the proper energy so as to be susceptible of transferring said energy to said atoms, ions or molecules, upon collision, thereby producing a greater population of atoms, ions or molecules of said substance in the higher of said pair of states; and means for defining a light path through said bounded volume which enables a stimulating light beam to selectively stimulate emission of light in said bounded volume, said light thus emitted having the same direction, frequency phase and polarization as the stimulating light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The light amplification apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said other particles provided in said bounded volume are atoms, ions or molecules different than said substance, said other particles being excited to a long-lived state above the ground state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The light amplification apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said means for producing said excited particles includes means for producing an electric current in said bounded volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light amplification apparatus as defined in claim 3 also including means for providing egress of light from said bounded volume.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light amplification apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said other particles provided in said bounded volume are electrons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light amplification apparatus as defined in claim 5 also including means for providing egress of light from said bounded volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The light amplification apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said substance is a first noble gas and said other particles are a second noble gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The light amplification apparatus as defined in claim 1 also including means to enable said substance to emit said light, when stimulated by said stimulating light beam in a wave train that has a sharply rising intensity, with an intensity rise time of less than approximately 10 -7 seconds.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of providing light by stimulated emission including the steps of: (a) providing a substance in a bounded volume, the atoms, ions, or molecules of which have well defined energy states, including a pair of states which differ in energy by an amount corresponding to light frequencies; (b) providing other particles within said bounded volume which have the proper energy so as to be susceptible of transferring energy to said atoms, ions or molecules, upon collision, thereby producing a greater population of atoms, ions or molecules of said substance in the higher of said pair of states; and (c) directing stimulating light along a path through said bounded volume which enables the stimulating light to selectively stimulate emission of light in said bounded volume, said light thus emitted having the same direction, frequency phase and polarization as the stimulating light.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of providing light by stimulated emission including the steps of: (a) providing a substance in a bounded volume, the atoms, ions, or molecules of which have well defined energy states, including a pair of states which differ in energy by an amount corresponding to light frequencies; (b) providing other particles within said bounded volume which have the proper energy so as to be susceptible of transferring energy to said atoms, ions or molecules, upon collision, thereby producing a greater population of atoms, ions or molecules of said substance in the higher of said pair of states; and (c) directing stimulating light along a path through said bounded volume which enables the stimulating light to selectively stimulate emission of light in said bounded volume, said light thus emitted having the same direction, frequency phase and polarization as the stimulating light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as defined in claim 9 in which said other particles provided in said bounded volume are atoms, ions or molecules different than said substance, said method also including the step of: (d) exciting said other particles to a long-lived state above the ground state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as defined in claim 10 in which said other particles are excited by an electric current.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as defined in claim 9 in which said other particles provided in said bounded volume are electrons.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 9 in which said substance is a first noble gas and said other particles are a second noble gas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The light amplification apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the transition between said pair of states is an electric dipole transition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The light amplification apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which the spontaneous decay rate from the lower of said pair of states is greater than from the higher of said pair of states.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2929922A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-02 | 1991-05-04 | 1991-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-02 | 1995-05-04 | 1995-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-02 | 1999-05-04 | 1999-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |