US4710939A — X-ray frequency down converter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 130 words

An X-ray detector comprising an excimer laser consisting of a cavity filled with a mixture of a noble gas and a halogen gas; said cavity having first and second parallel spaced walls which have a respective fully reflecting and partially refecting member fixed thereto; laser pumping means coupled to said cavity for pre-exciting said excimer gas within said cavity to a level first below its lasing energy level, whereby an input X-ray photon of given energy will induce local coherent light generation of a corresponding intensity within said cavity and exteriorly thereof through said partially reflecting member; an input source of X-ray photons fixed relative to said cavity and separate from said pumping means; and an output detector for detecting coherent light generated by said input source of X-ray photons.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 130 words

An X-ray detector comprising an excimer laser consisting of a cavity filled with a mixture of a noble gas and a halogen gas; said cavity having first and second parallel spaced walls which have a respective fully reflecting and partially refecting member fixed thereto; laser pumping means coupled to said cavity for pre-exciting said excimer gas within said cavity to a level first below its lasing energy level, whereby an input X-ray photon of given energy will induce local coherent light generation of a corresponding intensity within said cavity and exteriorly thereof through said partially reflecting member; an input source of X-ray photons fixed relative to said cavity and separate from said pumping means; and an output detector for detecting coherent light generated by said input source of X-ray photons.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The X-ray detector of claim 1, wherein said source of X-ray photons applies X-ray photons over the full surface of one wall of said cavity and wherein said output detector is coextensive with said partially reflecting member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The X-ray detector of claim 1, wherein said cavity has a thickness which is small compared to its length and width.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The X-ray detector of claim 1, wherein said detector has a length of about 14 inches, a width of about 17 inches and a thickness of about 1 inch.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

The X-ray detector of claim 3, wherein said laser pumping means includes first and second pumping sources are disposed adjacent opposite edges of said cavity and extend along the width of said cavity.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The X-ray detector of claim 5, wherein said first and second pumping sources comprise respective ultraviolet light lamps.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The X-ray detector of claim 5, wherein said first and second pumping sources comprise respective microwave energy sources.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

The X-ray detector of claim 7, wherein said source of X-ray photons applies X-ray photons over the full surface of one wall of said cavity and wherein said output detector is coextensive with said partially reflecting member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

The X-ray detector of claim 1, 3, 4 or 5, wherein said input source of X-ray photons consists of a narrow beam of X-ray photons and raster scan means for sweeping said beam over said cavity with a raster scan.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The X-ray detector of claim 9, wherein said output detector consists of a linear semiconductor photodiode array disposed exteriorly of said cavity and along the length of said partially reflecting member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

The X-ray detector of claim 1, 3, 4 or 5, wherein said input source of X-ray photons consists of a fan-shaped beam of X-ray photons, and means for sweeping said beam over the length of said cavity.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

The X-ray detector of claim 11, wherein said output detector consists of a linear photodiode array disposed exteriorly of said cavity and along the length of said partially reflecting member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

The X-ray detector of claim 1 which includes pump means connected to said cavity, and filter means; said pump means being connected to circulate said excimer gas in said cavity through said filter.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

The X-ray detector of claim 3, wherein said fully reflecting and partially reflecting members are disposed on respective ones of the opposite large area surfaces of said cavity; said X-ray photon source being disposed adjacent said fully reflecting surface.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 58 words

The X-ray detector of claim 1 which further includes baffle means disposed in said cavity for subdividing said cavity into a plurality of mutually isolated gas filled volumes, each of which is continuous between said fully and partially reflecting members; said baffle means being of a material which is transparent to the radiation of said laser pumping means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The X-ray detector of claim 14, wherein said partially reflecting member consists of a plurality of discontinuous regions.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 114 words

The process of converting X-ray energy to a lower frequency radiation; said process comprising the steps of pre-exciting the molecules of an excimer gas mixture in a laser cavity to an energy level just below the lasing energy level; applying X-ray photons to be converted to lower frequency radiation to said excimer gas mixture in order to raise the energy level of molecules in the path of said X-ray photons to a lasing energy level at which they produce output radiation having a lower frequency than said X-ray photons and an intensity related to the energy of the exciting X-ray photon; and detecting the local coherent radiation produced by said pre-excited lasing gas molecules.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 114 words

The process of converting X-ray energy to a lower frequency radiation; said process comprising the steps of pre-exciting the molecules of an excimer gas mixture in a laser cavity to an energy level just below the lasing energy level; applying X-ray photons to be converted to lower frequency radiation to said excimer gas mixture in order to raise the energy level of molecules in the path of said X-ray photons to a lasing energy level at which they produce output radiation having a lower frequency than said X-ray photons and an intensity related to the energy of the exciting X-ray photon; and detecting the local coherent radiation produced by said pre-excited lasing gas molecules.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

The process of claim 17, wherein said X-ray photons consist of a narrow beam of X-ray photons which are scanned in a raster-like scan through an object to be analyzed and over an input surface of said cavity.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

The process of claim 17, wherein said X-ray photons consist of a fan of X-ray photons which are scanned through an object to be analyzed and over the length of said cavity.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 42 words

The process of claim 17, wherein said X-ray photons extend over a two-dimensional area and have been modulated by passing through a three-dimensional object being analyzed and wherein said x-ray photons are simultaneously applied over a full input surface of said cavity.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-11-30	1991-06-01	1991-12-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-11-30	1995-06-01	1995-12-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-11-30	1999-06-01	1999-12-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

X-ray frequency down converter

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