High energy bursts from a solid state laser operated in the heat capacity limited regime

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:870467

Albrecht, Georg ^[1]; George, E Victor ^[1]; Krupke, William F ^[2]; Sooy, Walter ^[2]; Sutton, Steven B ^[3]

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1. Livermore, CA
2. Pleasanton, CA
3. Manteca, CA

High energy bursts are produced from a solid state laser operated in a heat capacity limited regime. Instead of cooling the laser, the active medium is thermally well isolated. As a result, the active medium will heat up until it reaches some maximum acceptable temperature. The waste heat is stored in the active medium itself. Therefore, the amount of energy the laser can put out during operation is proportional to its mass, the heat capacity of the active medium, and the temperature difference over which it is being operated. The high energy burst capacity of a heat capacity operated solid state laser, together with the absence of a heavy, power consuming steady state cooling system for the active medium, will make a variety of applications possible. Alternately, cooling takes place during a separate sequence when the laser is not operating. Industrial applications include new material working processes.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5526372
• OSTI ID: 870467
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

energy
bursts
solid
laser
operated
heat
capacity
limited
regime
produced
cooling
active
medium
thermally
isolated
result
reaches
maximum
acceptable
temperature
waste
stored
amount
operation
proportional
mass
difference
burst
absence
heavy
power
consuming
steady
variety
applications
alternately
takes
separate
sequence
operating
industrial
material
processes
heat capacity
industrial applications
temperature difference
waste heat
active medium
laser operated
energy bursts
capacity limited
limited regime
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