Method and apparatus for fast laser pulse detection using gaseous plasmas
US4447151A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 1981 |
| Grant date | May 8, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 18, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J1/4257
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The method and device of the instant invention is a detector of pulsed laser radiation which utilizes the electromotive force generated by the plasma formed when such radiation is focused onto a surface (1). Measurements are made with a 10.6 .mu.m CO.sub.2 laser capable of producing peak intensities of 10.sup.13 W/cm.sup.2 when directed through a converging lens (2). Evacuated detector response to such laser intensity is 1 kV signal peak amplitude and subnanosecond risetimes into a 50.OMEGA. load (3). Detector performance is found to be greatly altered with the introduction of a background gas (4). For example, with one atmosphere of air, the detector produces prompt signals of the order of 1 V with subnanosecond response for pulse trains lasting 100 ns. With argon, krypton, or zenon at pressures of the order of 10 torr, the detector generates "trigger pulses" of about 250 V amplitude and 0.2 ns risetimes. Such detectors are quite robust when irradiated with high intensity laser radiation and are useful for qualitative laser beam monitoring.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.