Laser ignition

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2003

OSTI ID:875016

Early, James W ^[1]; Lester, Charles S ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos, NM
2. San Juan Pueblo, NM

In the apparatus of the invention, a first excitation laser or other excitation light source is used in tandem with an ignitor laser to provide a compact, durable, engine deployable fuel ignition laser system. Reliable fuel ignition is provided over a wide range of fuel conditions by using a single remote excitation light source for one or more small lasers located proximate to one or more fuel combustion zones. In a third embodiment, alternating short and long pulses of light from the excitation light source are directed into the ignitor laser. Each of the embodiments of the invention can be multiplexed so as to provide laser light energy sequentially to more than one ignitor laser.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Los Alamos, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 6514069
• OSTI ID: 875016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

laser
ignition
apparatus
excitation
light
source
tandem
ignitor
provide
compact
durable
engine
deployable
fuel
reliable
provided
wide
range
conditions
single
remote
lasers
located
proximate
combustion
zones
third
embodiment
alternating
pulses
directed
embodiments
multiplexed
energy
sequentially
light source
laser light
combustion zone
wide range
light energy
excitation laser
/431/60/123/372/