Method and apparatus for reducing coherence of high-power laser beams

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:863189

Moncur, Norman K ^[1]; Mayer, Frederick J ^[1]

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1. Ann Arbor, MI

Method and apparatus for reducing the coherence and for smoothing the power density profile of a collimated high-power laser beam in which the beam is focused at a point on the surface of a target fabricated of material having a low atomic number. The initial portion of the focused beam heats the material to form a hot reflective plasma at the material surface. The remaining, major portion of the focused beam is reflected by the plasma and recollected to form a collimated beam having reduced beam coherence.

• DOE Contract Number: E(11-1)-2709
• Assignee: KMS Fusion, Inc. (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Patent Number(s): US 4116542
• OSTI ID: 863189
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
reducing
coherence
high-power
laser
beams
smoothing
power
density
profile
collimated
beam
focused
surface
target
fabricated
material
atomic
initial
portion
heats
form
hot
reflective
plasma
remaining
major
reflected
recollected
reduced
high-power laser
density profile
laser beams
laser beam
material surface
power laser
major portion
power density
collimated beam
focused beam
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