Compact, high energy gas laser

Patent · Tue Aug 03 00:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:862612

Rockwood, Stephen D ^[1]; Stapleton, Robert E ^[1]; Stratton, Thomas F ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos, NM

An electrically pumped gas laser amplifier unit having a disc-like configuration in which light propagation is radially outward from the axis rather than along the axis. The input optical energy is distributed over a much smaller area than the output optical energy, i.e., the amplified beam, while still preserving the simplicity of parallel electrodes for pumping the laser medium. The system may thus be driven by a comparatively low optical energy input, while at the same time, owing to the large output area, large energies may be extracted while maintaining the energy per unit area below the threshold of gas breakdown.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 3973213
• Application Number: 05/473,660
• OSTI ID: 862612
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

compact
energy
gas
laser
electrically
pumped
amplifier
unit
disc-like
configuration
light
propagation
radially
outward
axis
input
optical
distributed
output
amplified
beam
preserving
simplicity
parallel
electrodes
pumping
medium
driven
comparatively
time
energies
extracted
maintaining
below
threshold
breakdown
laser amplifier
optical energy
laser medium
gas laser
radially outward
energy input
pumped gas
output optical
parallel electrodes
input optical
gas breakdown
light propagation
parallel electrode
electrically pumped
/359/372/