Post pulse shutter for laser amplifier

Patent · Tue Mar 17 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:863832

Bradley, Laird P. ^[1]; Carder, Bruce M. ^[2]; Gagnon, William L. ^[3]

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1. Livermore, CA
2. Antioch, CA
3. Berkeley, CA

Apparatus and method for quickly closing off the return path for an amplified laser pulse at the output of an amplifier so as to prevent damage to amplifiers and other optical components appearing earlier in the chain by the return of an amplified pulse. The apparatus consists of a fast retropulse or post pulse shutter to suppress target reflection and/or beam return. This is accomplished by either quickly placing a solid across the light transmitting aperture of a component in the chain, such as a spatial filter pinhole, or generating and directing a plasma with sufficiently high density across the aperture, so as to, in effect, close the aperture to the returning amplified energy pulse.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): 4,257,017
• OSTI ID: 863832
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
post
pulse
shutter
laser
amplifier
apparatus
method
quickly
closing
return
path
amplified
output
prevent
damage
amplifiers
optical
components
appearing
earlier
chain
consists
fast
retropulse
suppress
target
reflection
beam
accomplished
placing
solid
light
transmitting
aperture
component
spatial
filter
pinhole
generating
directing
plasma
sufficiently
density
effect
close
returning
energy
spatial filter
prevent damage
apparatus consists
return path
optical components
laser pulse
laser amplifier
light transmitting
energy pulse
optical component
amplified pulse
LASERS
SHUTTERS
EQUIPMENT PROTECTION DEVICES
LASER RADIATION
OPTICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
RADIATIONS
/359/376/