Gas dynamic mixing laser

Patent · Tue Jun 03 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5709654

Pinsley, E A

A high power gas dynamic mixing laser capable of having an energizing gas formed by an exothermic decomposition process is disclosed. The laser includes a housing having a reaction chamber in which an excitation gas is formed by thermal decomposition of a starting material, a nozzle connected to the housing for expanding the excitation gas to supersonic velocity, means for injecting a lasing gas into the supersonic stream of excitation gas to produce an inversion of populated energy levels of the lasing gas, optical means for extracting a laser beam and exhaust means for passing the gas mixture to the atmosphere. An embodiment of the present invention includes a return duct attached at one end to the exhaust means and at the other end to the housing for circulating the gas through the laser and a lasing gas capable of thermal decomposition downstream the optical means to form the excitation gas.

• Assignee: United Technologies Corp
• Patent Number(s): US 4206429
• OSTI ID: 5709654
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONVERSION
DECOMPOSITION
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
GAS DYNAMIC LASERS
GAS LASERS
LASER MATERIALS
LASERS
MATERIALS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS