Optical surface preservation techniques and apparatus
US9653869B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2013 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 14, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/227
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Techniques and architecture are disclosed for preserving optical surfaces (e.g., windows, coatings, etc.) in a flowing gas amplifier laser system, such as a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) system. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used, for example, to protect optical surfaces in a DPAL system from: (1) chemical attack by pump-bleached alkali vapor atoms and/or ions; and/or (2) fouling by adherence thereto of reaction products/soot produced in the DPAL. Also, in some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to substantially match the geometry of the pumping volume with that of the lasing volume, thereby minimizing or otherwise reducing the effects of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) on DPAL output power. Furthermore, in some cases, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to provide a DPAL system capable of producing a beam output power in the range of about 20 kW to 10 MW, or greater.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.