Laser operation with closed gas and tuned duct pulsing
US4283686A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 21, 1979 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/095
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a pulsed gas laser, pulses of electrical or other energy are desirably converted in part into pulses of quantum mechanical pumping of the lasable gas, and unavoidably converted in part into pulses of heating of the lasable gas. According to this invention, efficiency and economy of operation are enhanced by exploiting the pulses of heating to propel and recirculate the gas through cooling means to freshen it thermally for further cycles of lasing, utilizing a structure comprising an acoustically tuned duct and an acoustic diode to establish proper phasing and direction of the pulsed and recirculating operation. The invention, although applicable to other gas lasers, is particularly applicable to electron beam ionized, electrical current sustained lasers. The invention reduces if not eliminates the cost, bulk and other disadvantages of a mechanical pump or other conventional recirculation equipment. Cooling of the recirculating gas is accomplished, at least in part and preferably in large measure, by injection of make-up gas of the lasable gas composition under cooling conditions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.