Patent US5313485A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5313485A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Luminescent light source for laser pumping and laser system containing same
Assignee: National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia LLC
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Filing: 1992-10-26
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Granted: 1994-05-17
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Expires: 2012-10-26
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a pumping lamp for use with lasers comprising a porous substrate loaded with a component capable of emitting light upon interaction of the component with exciting radiation and a source of exciting radiation. Preferably, the pumping lamp comprises a source of exciting radiation, such as an electron beam, and an aerogel or xerogel substrate loaded with a component capable of interacting with the exciting radiation, e.g., a phosphor, to produce light, e.g., visible light, of a suitable band width and of a sufficient intensity to generate a laser beam from a laser material.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy A. Hamil
- 👤 Carol S. Ashley
- 👤 C. Jeffrey Brinker
- 👤 Scott Reed
- 👤 Robert J. Walko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
In a laser apparatus for use in generating a laser beam, said apparatus comprising a lasing material and pumping means, the improvement wherein said pumping means comprises a porous substrate loaded with a component capable of emitting light upon interaction of the component with exciting radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a laser apparatus for use in generating a laser beam, said apparatus comprising a lasing material and pumping means, the improvement wherein said pumping means comprises a porous substrate loaded with a component capable of emitting light upon interaction of the component with exciting radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The pumping mans of claim 1 wherein said porous substrate is a transparent xerogel or aerogel, said component is a luminescent material, and said exciting radiation is an electron beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A laser apparatus comprising: a laser material; a porous substrate loaded with a component capable of emitting light upon interaction of said component with exciting radiation; and a source of exciting radiation, wherein, upon interaction with exciting radiation, the loaded porous substrate can emit light within the absorption band width of said laser material and of a sufficient intensity to generate a laser beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A laser apparatus comprising: a laser material; a porous substrate loaded with a component capable of emitting light upon interaction of said component with exciting radiation; and a source of exciting radiation, wherein, upon interaction with exciting radiation, the loaded porous substrate can emit light within the absorption band width of said laser material and of a sufficient intensity to generate a laser beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
A laser according to claim 3 further comprising resonator means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laser according to claim 4, wherein said porous substrate is transparent with respect to said exciting radiation and said light and said component is a luminescent material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A laser according to claim 5, wherein said substrate is a xerogel or aerogel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A laser according to claim 6, wherein said substrate is an aerogel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A laser according to claim 7, wherein said component is a phosphor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A laser according to claim 8, wherein the particle size of said phosphor is 0.001-20 μm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A laser according to claim 8, wherein said phosphor particle size is 2-20 μm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser according to claim 9, wherein the particle size of said phosphor is wit the range of 0.01-0.4 μm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser according to claim 8, wherein the loading of said phosphor is 0.005-1.0 g/cc of the composition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laser according to claim 8, wherein said phosphor is zinc sulfide doped with silver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laser according to claim 8 wherein said phosphor is zinc sulfide doped with thulium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser according to claim 8, wherein said component comprises phosphor whiskers incorporated into said aerogel substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laser according to claim 8, wherein said composition further comprises silica fibers incorporated into the phosphor/aerogel composite.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
A laser according to claim 7, wherein said aerogel is a silica aerogel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser according to claim 7, wherein the density of said aerogel is 0.01-1.5 g/cm 3 .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
A laser according to claim wherein said component is a photoluminescent material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laser according to claim 19, wherein said photoluminescent material is a uranium compound loaded into said aerogel substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A laser according to claim 7, wherein said aerogel substrate has a porosity of at least about 85 vol %.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A laser according to claim 7, wherein said aerogel substrate has a surface area of at least about 500 m 2 /g.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A laser according to claim 7, wherein said aerogel substrate transmits at least about 50% of the light generated by said component.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A laser according to claim 7, wherein the duration of the pump pulse of light emitted is smaller than the fluorescence lifetime of said laser material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laser according to claim wherein said aerogel substrate has a density of 0.075-0.30 g/cm 3 and a surface area of 600-1200 m 2 /g.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A laser according to claim 7, wherein said exciting radiation is an electron beam with an energy of 100-10 6 electron volts.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A laser according to claim 7, wherein said exciting radiation is 3 ev-9 ev ultraviolet light.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A laser according to claim, wherein said exciting radiation is 1.5 ev-3 ev visible light.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A laser according to claim 7, wherein said exciting radiation is 0.1 ev-1.5 ev infrared light.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of forming a laser beam comprising pumping a laser material with a flash lamp wherein said flash lamp is a porous substrate loaded with a component capable of emitting light, upon interaction of said component with an exciting radiation, wherein the emitted light is within the absorption band width of the laser material and of a sufficient intensity to generate a laser beam, and wherein said flash lamp is activated by exposing said component to exciting radiation from a source thereof.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of forming a laser beam comprising pumping a laser material with a flash lamp wherein said flash lamp is a porous substrate loaded with a component capable of emitting light, upon interaction of said component with an exciting radiation, wherein the emitted light is within the absorption band width of the laser material and of a sufficient intensity to generate a laser beam, and wherein said flash lamp is activated by exposing said component to exciting radiation from a source thereof.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of optically pumping a lasing material comprising subjecting the laser material to light emitted from a component, said component being loaded in a porous substrate, wherein said component emits light by exposure to a source of exciting radiation.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of optically pumping a lasing material comprising subjecting the laser material to light emitted from a component, said component being loaded in a porous substrate, wherein said component emits light by exposure to a source of exciting radiation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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