Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for testing materials for use in a laser resonator

US5729341A · kind A · utility

1Cited by
4References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 13, 1996
Grant dateMar 17, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 13, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/88
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for testing materials for use in a laser resonator includes selecting a test fixture apparatus having a housing with an internal chamber volume selected to approximate the internal volume of a predetermined laser resonator and having a pair of sealed windows therein which are removably attached to the housing and having optical coatings selected to match the coating on the optics of a laser. The housing has a removable cover and a gas purging opening. A laser of a predetermined wavelength and power is mounted adjacent the test fixture and is aligned for directing the laser beam through both of the windows of the test fixture. A material is placed in the test fixture and a laser beam directed through the coated windows for a predetermined period of time and thereafter the coated windows are examined for damage or contamination. The test fixtures are also cleaned and certified prior to testing so that a preselected test fixture can determine damage for selective materials used therein.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.