Laser barometer

Patent · Tue Feb 06 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:875175

Abercrombie, Kevin R. ^[1]; Shiels, David ^[2]; Rash, Tim ^[3]

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1. Westminster, CO
2. Thornton, CO
3. Aurora, CO

A pressure measuring instrument that utilizes the change of the refractive index of a gas as a function of pressure and the coherent nature of a laser light to determine the barometric pressure within an environment. As the gas pressure in a closed environment varies, the index of refraction of the gas changes. The amount of change is a function of the gas pressure. By illuminating the gas with a laser light source, causing the wavelength of the light to change, pressure can be quantified by measuring the shift in fringes (alternating light and dark bands produced when coherent light is mixed) in an interferometer.

• Research Organization: EG & G Inc., Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-90DP62349
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): H001937
• Application Number: 08/613,784
• OSTI ID: 875175
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 1996 Feb 29
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

laser
barometer
pressure
measuring
instrument
utilizes
change
refractive
index
gas
function
coherent
nature
light
determine
barometric
environment
closed
varies
refraction
amount
illuminating
source
causing
wavelength
quantified
shift
fringes
alternating
bands
produced
mixed
interferometer
laser bar
measuring instrument
light source
laser light
gas pressure
refractive index
coherent light
closed environment
pressure measuring
barometric pressure
statutory invention registration
/73/250/