Supersonic and subsonic laser with high frequency discharge excitation

Krasnov, Alexander V.

1997

Online Patent

Zugriff:

View record in USPTO Patent Grants (Volltext)

Disclosed is a gas laser utilizing high frequency discharge excitation in the area of sonic or supersonic/subsonic transfer gas flow. The laser uses various types of gases and mixtures of gases as the active medium and provides for pre-ionization of the gaseous medium before using high frequency discharge excitation. The gas is supplied into a receiver, and has downstream therefrom a supersonic nozzle for acceleration of the active gaseous flow to high subsonic or supersonic speeds in order to provide intensive dynamic cooling of the active gas medium. The gas is excited using high frequency discharge excitation in the critical area of the supersonic nozzle or downstream therefrom. The high frequency discharge and excitation can also occur within the optical resonator region which is located within the supersonic area of the nozzle. The present invention provides compact, efficient and super-powerful continuous, quasi-continuous and pulse laser systems with wavelengths from 0.3 mkm to 10.6 mkm with a high quality output beam. The present laser device may be utilized in scientific, commercial, aerospace and free space applications.

Titel:	Supersonic and subsonic laser with high frequency discharge excitation
Autor/in / Beteiligte Person:	Krasnov, Alexander V.
Link:	View record in USPTO Patent Grants (Volltext)
Veröffentlichung:	1997
Medientyp:	Patent
Sonstiges:	Nachgewiesen in: USPTO Patent Grants Sprachen: English Patent Number: 5,682,400 Publication Date: October 28, 1997 Appl. No: 08/534,796 Application Filed: September 27, 1995 Claim: What is claimed is Claim: 1. A high frequency discharge laser comprising Claim: a receiver having a gas inlet; Claim: a gas medium entering said receiver through said gas inlet; Claim: a pre-ionizer downstream of said receiver; Claim: a supersonic nozzle downstream of said receiver, said nozzle having a subsonic area, a critical area and a supersonic area; Claim: at least one pair of high frequency discharge electrodes within said supersonic nozzle; Claim: an optical resonator within said supersonic nozzle downstream of said critical area and penetrated by a laser beam; and Claim: a diffuser located downstream of said optical resonator. Claim: 2. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said optical resonator is provided with at least one transmissive mirror. Claim: 3. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said gas inlet is in flow communication with a gas pump. Claim: 4. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 3 wherein said gas pump circulates said gas medium within a closed circuit. Claim: 5. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 3 wherein said gas pump circulates said gas medium at a subsonic speed within said supersonic area of said nozzle. Claim: 6. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 3 wherein said gas pump circulates said gas medium at a sonic speed within said critical area of said nozzle. Claim: 7. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said pre-ionizer comprises a pre-ionization grid. Claim: 8. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 7 wherein said pre-ionization grid is comprised of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, said positive electrode spaced apart from said negative electrode a predetermined distance, said positive electrode having a plurality of pins extending outwardly therefrom directionally towards said negative electrode, said negative electrode having a plurality of pins extending outwardly therefrom directionally towards said positive electrode, said pins from said negative electrode and said pins from said positive electrode substantially coextensive and spaced apart a predetermined distance. Claim: 9. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 8 wherein said predetermined distance separating said pins extending from said negative electrode and said pins from said positive electrode is about 0.04 inch. Claim: 10. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 7 wherein said pre-ionization grid is connected to a direct current power supply. Claim: 11. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 7 wherein said pre-ionization grid is connected to an alternating current power supply. Claim: 12. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said pre-ionizer comprises at least one ultraviolet source. Claim: 13. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 12 wherein said ultraviolet source is comprised of a first and a second ultraviolet bulb, said bulbs being opposed spaced relative within said receiver and in electrical communication with a power supply source. Claim: 14. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said supersonic nozzle has a logarithmic profile with an opening angle of about 0.5 degrees within said optical resonator. Claim: 15. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said at least one pair of electrodes comprises at least one upper and at least one lower RF linear electrode. Claim: 16. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 15 wherein said upper and said lower electrodes are oppositely spaced within said supersonic nozzle. Claim: 17. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 15 wherein said upper and lower linear electrodes do not extend the full cross sectional width of said nozzle. Claim: 18. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 15 wherein said electrodes are comprised of aluminum. Claim: 19. The laser of claim 18 wherein said electrodes have a non-conductive material located on their surface. Claim: 20. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 15 wherein said upper electrode and said lower electrode in electrical communication with an RF resonator, said RF resonator in electrical communication with an RF power supply. Claim: 21. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are surrounded on their perimeter by dielectric material. Claim: 22. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 21 wherein said dielectric material is comprised of TEFLON. Claim: 23. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 21 wherein said dielectric material is comprised of solid silicon. Claim: 24. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 21 wherein said dielectric material is comprised of ceramic. Claim: 25. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said at least one pair of electrodes comprises a plurality of oppositely spaced upper and lower RF linear electrodes. Claim: 26. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 25 wherein said plurality of upper and lower electrodes are substantially surrounded by a dielectric material. Claim: 27. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 25 wherein said plurality of upper and lower electrodes are coextensive with said optical resonator. Claim: 28. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 25 wherein said upper and lower linear electrodes do not extend the full cross sectional width of said nozzle. Claim: 29. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said gas medium is combined with a pre-ionization vapor including Cesium. Claim: 30. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said gas medium is combined with a pre-ionization vapor including Dimethilaniline. Claim: 31. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said gas medium flows at a supersonic speed within said supersonic area of said nozzle. Claim: 32. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said gas medium is comprised of at least a portion of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium, xenon or mixtures thereof. Claim: 33. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said gas medium is comprised of at least a portion of neon, helium or mixtures thereof. Claim: 34. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said gas medium is comprised of at least a portion of carbon monoxide, oxygen, xenon or mixtures thereof. Claim: 35. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said gas medium is comprised of at least a portion of carbon monoxide and xenon or mixtures thereof. Claim: 36. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said gas medium includes argon. Claim: 37. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 36 wherein argon is combined with xenon. Claim: 38. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 36 wherein argon is combined with helium. Claim: 39. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 36 wherein argon is combined with helium and xenon. Claim: 40. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said gas medium is comprised of at least a portion of krypton and helium or mixtures thereof. Claim: 41. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said diffuser is a two shock diffuser. Claim: 42. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said diffuser is comprised of a central element dividing said gas into an upper and lower exhaust path. Claim: 43. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said laser has an active region downstream of said critical area of said nozzle. Claim: 44. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 1 wherein said laser is comprised of a single piece central body portion and a first and second mono-plate side portion. Claim: 45. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 44 wherein said central body portion and said first and second side portion are comprised of aluminum. Claim: 46. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 44 wherein said central body portion and said first and second side portions are comprised of an aluminum alloy. Claim: 47. The high frequency discharge laser of claim 44 wherein said central body portion and said first and second side portions have an interior of non-conductive material. Claim: 48. A high frequency discharge laser comprising Claim: a gas inlet located within a receiver, said gas inlet being in flow communication with a gas source, said gas inlet providing a gas medium in said receiver; Claim: a pre-ionizer downstream of and in flow communication with said receiver; Claim: a supersonic nozzle downstream of and in flow communication with said receiver, said supersonic nozzle having a critical area adjacent to said receiver; Claim: high frequency discharge electrodes downstream of and in flow communication with said receiver; Claim: an optical resonator downstream of and in flow communication with said critical area of said nozzle; Claim: a laser beam penetrating said optical resonator; and Claim: a two shock supersonic diffuser downstream of and in flow communication with said optical resonator. Claim: 49. The laser of claim 48 wherein said pre-ionizer is comprised of a pre-ionization grid. Claim: 50. The pre-ionization grid of claim 49 wherein said pre-ionization grid includes a positive and a negative electrode. Claim: 51. The laser of claim 48 wherein said pre-ionizer includes an ultraviolet radiation source. Claim: 52. The laser of claim 51 wherein said ultraviolet radiation source is comprised of spaced opposed ultraviolet bulbs. Claim: 53. The laser of claim 52 wherein said laser includes cylindrical ultraviolet reflectors surrounding at least a portion of each of said bulbs, said ultraviolet reflectors having multidielectrical skins. Claim: 54. The laser of claim 48 wherein said high frequency discharge electrodes are comprised of at least one pair of spaced opposed RF linear electrodes. Claim: 55. The laser of claim 54 wherein said linear electrodes are located within said optical resonator. Claim: 56. The laser of claim 54 wherein said linear electrodes are located downstream of said critical area of said nozzle and upstream of said optical resonator. Claim: 57. The laser of claim 54 wherein each of said linear electrodes are covered on their perimeter by a dielectric material. Claim: 58. The laser of claim 57 wherein said dielectric material covering the perimeter of said linear electrodes has a predetermined thickness at least two times the distance between said upper and lower electrode. Claim: 59. The laser of claim 54 wherein said linear electrodes are water cooled. Claim: 60. The laser of claim 54 wherein a predetermined gap is formed between the sides of said laser and said linear electrodes thereby forming a cool buffer flow downstream of said electrodes. Claim: 61. The laser of claim 60 wherein said predetermined gap is about 0.6 inches. Claim: 62. The laser of claim 54 wherein said linear electrodes are located within said critical area of said nozzle. Claim: 63. The laser of claim 48 wherein said pre-ionizer is located downstream of said receiver. Claim: 64. The laser of claim 48 wherein said pre-ionizer is located within said critical area of said nozzle. Claim: 65. The laser of claim 48 wherein said two shock supersonic diffuser has a central element displaced between an upper exhaust channel and a lower exhaust channel. Claim: 66. The laser of claim 48 wherein said laser is comprised of a three piece body, said three piece body further comprised of a central body portion and first and second side plate members on opposed sides of said central body portion. Claim: 67. The laser of claim 48 wherein said high frequency discharge electrodes are integrated with an RF resonator, said electrodes and resonator electrically connected to an RF power supply by a coaxial RF cable. Claim: 68. The laser of claim 48 wherein said high frequency discharge electrodes are integrated with an RF resonator and an RF power amplifier, said RF power amplifier electrically connected to a DC power supply and power supply controller. Claim: 69. The laser of claim 48 further comprising a gas pump, wherein said pump circulates said gas medium at a speed of about 0.5 Mach to about 5 Mach within said optical resonator. Claim: 70. The laser of claim 48 further comprising a gas pump, wherein said pump adjusts the pressure within said receiver to be from about 0.1 Bar to about 50 Bar. Current U.S. Class: 372/82; 372/60; 372/86; 372/90; 372/701 Current International Class: H01S 3097 Patent References Cited: Re29103 January 1977 Wilson et al. ; 3543179 November 1970 Wilson ; 3621461 November 1971 Perkins ; 3681710 August 1972 Lary et al. ; 3694770 September 1972 Burwell et al. ; 3748594 July 1973 Pugh ; 3998393 December 1976 Petty ; 4005374 January 1977 Levatter et al. ; 4064465 December 1977 Hundstad et al. ; 4088966 May 1978 Samis ; 4100507 July 1978 Born et al. ; 4136317 January 1979 Stregack et al. ; 4194169 March 1980 Rich et al. ; 4200819 April 1980 Haslund ; 4206429 June 1980 Pinsley ; 4237428 December 1980 Wexler et al. ; 4251781 February 1981 Sutter, Jr. ; 4413345 November 1983 Altmann ; 4457000 June 1984 Rao ; 4598406 July 1986 Fino et al. ; 4686681 August 1987 Paranto et al. ; 4805182 February 1989 Laakmann ; 4837772 June 1989 Laakmann ; 4841537 June 1989 Alexandrov et al. ; 4885754 December 1989 Egawa ; 4937834 June 1990 Egawa ; 4964136 October 1990 Egawa ; 4974229 November 1990 Egawa ; 5008894 April 1991 Laakmann ; 5038357 August 1991 Lavarini et al. ; 5067135 November 1991 Perzl et al. ; 5091914 February 1992 Maeda et al. ; 5153892 October 1992 Kawakubo et al. ; 5200971 April 1993 Wildermuth et al. ; 5206875 April 1993 Von Buelow et al. ; 5206876 April 1993 van Buelow et al. ; 5239553 August 1993 Ono et al. ; 5313486 May 1994 Nakatani ; 5313487 May 1994 Fujikawa et al. Primary Examiner: Bovernick, Rodney B. Assistant Examiner: Wise, Robert E. Attorney, Agent or Firm: Middleton & Reutlinger

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