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Title: Post pulse shutter for laser amplifier

Abstract

Apparatus and method for quickly closing off the return path for an amplified laser pulse at the output of an amplifier so as to prevent damage to amplifiers and other optical components appearing earlier in the chain by the return of an amplified pulse. The apparatus consists of a fast retropulse or post pulse shutter to suppress target reflection and/or beam return. This is accomplished by either quickly placing a solid across the light transmitting aperture of a component in the chain, such as a spatial filter pinhole, or generating and directing a plasma with sufficiently high density across the aperture, so as to, in effect, close the aperture to the returning amplified energy pulse.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Livermore, CA
  2. Antioch, CA
  3. Berkeley, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
863832
Patent Number(s):
4257017
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01S - DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; post; pulse; shutter; laser; amplifier; apparatus; method; quickly; closing; return; path; amplified; output; prevent; damage; amplifiers; optical; components; appearing; earlier; chain; consists; fast; retropulse; suppress; target; reflection; beam; accomplished; placing; solid; light; transmitting; aperture; component; spatial; filter; pinhole; generating; directing; plasma; sufficiently; density; effect; close; returning; energy; spatial filter; prevent damage; apparatus consists; return path; optical components; laser pulse; laser amplifier; light transmitting; energy pulse; optical component; amplified pulse; LASERS; SHUTTERS; EQUIPMENT PROTECTION DEVICES; LASER RADIATION; OPTICAL EQUIPMENT; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT; RADIATIONS; /359/376/

Citation Formats

Bradley, Laird P., Carder, Bruce M., and Gagnon, William L. Post pulse shutter for laser amplifier. United States: N. p., 1981. Web.
Bradley, Laird P., Carder, Bruce M., & Gagnon, William L. Post pulse shutter for laser amplifier. United States.
Bradley, Laird P., Carder, Bruce M., and Gagnon, William L. Tue . "Post pulse shutter for laser amplifier". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863832.
@article{osti_863832,
title = {Post pulse shutter for laser amplifier},
author = {Bradley, Laird P. and Carder, Bruce M. and Gagnon, William L.},
abstractNote = {Apparatus and method for quickly closing off the return path for an amplified laser pulse at the output of an amplifier so as to prevent damage to amplifiers and other optical components appearing earlier in the chain by the return of an amplified pulse. The apparatus consists of a fast retropulse or post pulse shutter to suppress target reflection and/or beam return. This is accomplished by either quickly placing a solid across the light transmitting aperture of a component in the chain, such as a spatial filter pinhole, or generating and directing a plasma with sufficiently high density across the aperture, so as to, in effect, close the aperture to the returning amplified energy pulse.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Mar 17 00:00:00 EST 1981},
month = {Tue Mar 17 00:00:00 EST 1981}
}