skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Nuclear heated and powered metal excimer laser

Abstract

A laser uses heat and thermionic electrical output from a nuclear reactor in which heat generated by the reactor is utilized to vaporize metal lasants. Voltage output from a thermionic converter is used to create an electric discharge in the metal vapors. In one embodiment the laser vapors are excited by a discharge only. The second embodiment utilizes fission coatings on the inside of heat pipes, in which fission fragment excitation and ionization is employed in addition to a discharge. Both embodiments provide efficient laser systems that are capable of many years of operation without servicing. Metal excimers are the most efficient electronic transition lasers known with output in the visible wavelengths. Use of metal excimers, in addition to their efficiency and wavelengths, allows utilization of reactor waste heat which plagues many nuclear pumped laser concepts.

Inventors:
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6663330
Assignee:
EDB-83-017928
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; LASERS; NUCLEAR PUMPING; COATINGS; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; HEAT PIPES; HEATING; METALS; THERMIONIC CONVERTERS; THERMIONIC EMISSION; VAPORS; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; ELEMENTS; EMISSION; FLUIDS; GASES; PUMPING; 420300* - Engineering- Lasers- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Womack, D R. Nuclear heated and powered metal excimer laser. United States: N. p., 1982. Web.
Womack, D R. Nuclear heated and powered metal excimer laser. United States.
Womack, D R. 1982. "Nuclear heated and powered metal excimer laser". United States.
@article{osti_6663330,
title = {Nuclear heated and powered metal excimer laser},
author = {Womack, D R},
abstractNote = {A laser uses heat and thermionic electrical output from a nuclear reactor in which heat generated by the reactor is utilized to vaporize metal lasants. Voltage output from a thermionic converter is used to create an electric discharge in the metal vapors. In one embodiment the laser vapors are excited by a discharge only. The second embodiment utilizes fission coatings on the inside of heat pipes, in which fission fragment excitation and ionization is employed in addition to a discharge. Both embodiments provide efficient laser systems that are capable of many years of operation without servicing. Metal excimers are the most efficient electronic transition lasers known with output in the visible wavelengths. Use of metal excimers, in addition to their efficiency and wavelengths, allows utilization of reactor waste heat which plagues many nuclear pumped laser concepts.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6663330}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Feb 11 00:00:00 EST 1982},
month = {Thu Feb 11 00:00:00 EST 1982}
}