High energy bursts from a solid state laser operated in the heat capacity limited regime
US5526372A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 5, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/164
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
High energy bursts are produced from a solid state laser operated in a heat capacity limited regime. Instead of cooling the laser, the active medium is thermally well isolated. As a result, the active medium will heat up until it reaches some maximum acceptable temperature. The waste heat is stored in the active medium itself. Therefore, the amount of energy the laser can put out during operation is proportional to its mass, the heat capacity of the active medium, and the temperature difference over which it is being operated. The high energy burst capacity of a heat capacity operated solid state laser, together with the absence of a heavy, power consuming steady state cooling system for the active medium, will make a variety of applications possible. Alternately, cooling takes place during a separate sequence when the laser is not operating. Industrial applications include new material working processes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.