System for the production of plasma

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:863198

Bakken, George S ^[1]

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1. Ann Arbor, MI

The present invention provides a system for the production of a plasma by concentrating and focusing a laser beam on the plasma-forming material with a lightfocusing member which comprises a parabolic axicon in conjunction with a coaxial conical mirror. The apex of the conical mirror faces away from the focus of the parabolic axicon such that the conical mirror serves to produce a virtual line source along the axis of the cone. Consequently, irradiation from a laser parallel to the axis toward the apex of the conical mirror will be concentrated at the focus of the parabolic axicon, impinging upon the plasma-forming material there introduced to produce a plasma. The system is adaptable to irradiation of a target pellet introduced at the focus of the parabolic axicon and offers an advantage in that the target pellet can be irradiated with a high degree of radial and spherical symmetry.

• DOE Contract Number: E(11-1)-2031
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4118274
• OSTI ID: 863198
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

production
plasma
provides
concentrating
focusing
laser
beam
plasma-forming
material
lightfocusing
comprises
parabolic
axicon
conjunction
coaxial
conical
mirror
apex
focus
serves
produce
virtual
line
source
axis
cone
consequently
irradiation
parallel
concentrated
impinging
introduced
adaptable
target
pellet
offers
advantage
irradiated
degree
radial
spherical
symmetry
laser beam
target pellet
forming material
line source
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