Method and apparatus for fast laser pulse detection using gaseous plasmas
Abstract
The method and device of the instant invention is a detector of pulsed laser radiation which utilizes the electromotive force generated by the plasma formed when such radiation is focused onto a surface (1). Measurements are made with a 10.6 .mu.m CO.sub.2 laser capable of producing peak intensities of 10.sup.13 W/cm.sup.2 when directed through a converging lens (2). Evacuated detector response to such laser intensity is 1 kV signal peak amplitude and subnanosecond risetimes into a 50.OMEGA. load (3). Detector performance is found to be greatly altered with the introduction of a background gas (4). For example, with one atmosphere of air, the detector produces prompt signals of the order of 1 V with subnanosecond response for pulse trains lasting 100 ns. With argon, krypton, or zenon at pressures of the order of 10 torr, the detector generates "trigger pulses" of about 250 V amplitude and 0.2 ns risetimes. Such detectors are quite robust when irradiated with high intensity laser radiation and are useful for qualitative laser beam monitoring.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Albuquerque, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864987
- Patent Number(s):
- 4447151
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01J - MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED, VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01S - DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; apparatus; fast; laser; pulse; detection; gaseous; plasmas; device; instant; detector; pulsed; radiation; utilizes; electromotive; force; generated; plasma; formed; focused; surface; measurements; 10; capable; producing; peak; intensities; 13; cm; directed; converging; lens; evacuated; response; intensity; kv; signal; amplitude; subnanosecond; risetimes; 50; omega; load; performance; found; greatly; altered; introduction; background; gas; example; atmosphere; air; produces; prompt; signals; trains; lasting; 100; argon; krypton; zenon; pressures; torr; generates; trigger; pulses; 250; detectors; robust; irradiated; useful; qualitative; beam; monitoring; beam monitoring; trigger pulse; pulse detection; pulse train; laser pulse; laser beam; pulsed laser; laser radiation; plasma formed; pulse trains; peak amplitude; converging lens; intensity laser; laser capable; detector performance; trigger pulses; electromotive force; gaseous plasma; motive force; signal peak; beam monitor; /356/136/250/313/
Citation Formats
McLellan, Edward J, and Webb, John A. Method and apparatus for fast laser pulse detection using gaseous plasmas. United States: N. p., 1984.
Web.
McLellan, Edward J, & Webb, John A. Method and apparatus for fast laser pulse detection using gaseous plasmas. United States.
McLellan, Edward J, and Webb, John A. Sun .
"Method and apparatus for fast laser pulse detection using gaseous plasmas". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864987.
@article{osti_864987,
title = {Method and apparatus for fast laser pulse detection using gaseous plasmas},
author = {McLellan, Edward J and Webb, John A},
abstractNote = {The method and device of the instant invention is a detector of pulsed laser radiation which utilizes the electromotive force generated by the plasma formed when such radiation is focused onto a surface (1). Measurements are made with a 10.6 .mu.m CO.sub.2 laser capable of producing peak intensities of 10.sup.13 W/cm.sup.2 when directed through a converging lens (2). Evacuated detector response to such laser intensity is 1 kV signal peak amplitude and subnanosecond risetimes into a 50.OMEGA. load (3). Detector performance is found to be greatly altered with the introduction of a background gas (4). For example, with one atmosphere of air, the detector produces prompt signals of the order of 1 V with subnanosecond response for pulse trains lasting 100 ns. With argon, krypton, or zenon at pressures of the order of 10 torr, the detector generates "trigger pulses" of about 250 V amplitude and 0.2 ns risetimes. Such detectors are quite robust when irradiated with high intensity laser radiation and are useful for qualitative laser beam monitoring.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984}
}