US5007064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas laser
Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
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Filing: 1989-07-19
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Granted: 1991-04-09
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Expires: 2009-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A gas laser comprises an optical cavity, a coaxial transmission line at least partially disposed in the optical cavity, a lasant gas disposed in the cavity, and means for transmitting at least one electrical pulse progressively along the transmission line to generate a travelling wave of ionization to pump the lasant gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Nigel Seddon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:38
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0971; H01S3/0973
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A gas laser comprising: an optical cavity; a coaxial transmission line at least partially disposed in said optical cavity; a lasant gas disposed in said cavity at least partially surrounding said transmission line; means for transmitting at least one electrical pulse progressively along said transmission line and for generating a travelling wave of ionization to pump the lasant gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A gas laser comprising: an optical cavity; a coaxial transmission line at least partially disposed in said optical cavity; a lasant gas disposed in said cavity at least partially surrounding said transmission line; means for transmitting at least one electrical pulse progressively along said transmission line and for generating a travelling wave of ionization to pump the lasant gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A laser according to claim 1, wherein said transmission line has an impedance and said impedance comprises a means for propagating said ionization along the cavity with a speed matched to the lifetime of the lasant gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A laser according to claim 2, in which said optical cavity, said transmission line, said lasant gas and said means for generating, in combination comprise means defining a single pass gas laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A laser according to claim 1, in which the coaxial transmission line comprises an outer, substantially cylindrical conducting electrode and an annular solid dielectric and the optical cavity is arranged in the centre of the annular solid dielectric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A laser according to claim 4, in which the coaxial transmission line includes a central conducting electrode and in which the optical cavity is generally annular and occupies the space between the central conducting electrode and the annular dielectric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser according to claim 5, in which the central conducting electrode is surrounded by a solid dielectric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A laser according to claim 4, in which the coaxial transmission does not include a central conducting electrode and including means for providing a sliding discharge due to breakdown of the lasant gas in the optical cavity in the centre of the annular dielectric material providing a conducting path in the centre of the coaxial transmission line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A laser according to claim 1, in which the transmission line includes a saturable magnetic material such as a ferrite having an annular configuration and located outside the optical cavity containing the lasant gas.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of operating a gas laser comprising the steps of: providing an optical cavity containing a lasant gas in the middle of a coaxial transmission line; and transmitting an electrical pulse progressively along the length of the transmission line and thereby generating a travelling wave of ionization to pump successive regions of the lasant gas.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of operating a gas laser comprising the steps of: providing an optical cavity containing a lasant gas in the middle of a coaxial transmission line; and transmitting an electrical pulse progressively along the length of the transmission line and thereby generating a travelling wave of ionization to pump successive regions of the lasant gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 9, further including the step of matching the speed of the travelling wave of ionization to the speed of propogation of emitted radiation from the lasant gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 10, in which the coaxial transmission line does not include a central conducting electrode, the method further comprising the step of generating a sliding discharge along the centre of the cavity to provide a central conducting path for the transmission line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3828277A
Cited
US4360924A
Cited
US4788691A
Cited
US4752937A
Cited
GB2194380A
Cited
EP0280044A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-08 | 1994-10-08 | 1995-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-08 | 1998-10-08 | 1999-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-08 | 2002-10-08 | 2003-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |