Abstract:
A high intensity solid state light pulse generator, has a low voltage, low range radio frequency carrier wave generator, the output of which is modulated by a low frequency sweep signal, to generate sonoluminescent light pulses visible to the human eye, within a desired spectrum. The modulating sweep signal can be computer generated in a predetermined mode, for a range of outputs. In one embodiment, a carrier wave at 450 kHz is modulated by way of an input in the audio range of 20 to 20,000 Hz. The colour of the output pulses is held to be a function of the modulating frequency. By selection of a suitable modulating frequency, monochromatic light pulses of a predetermined colour may be provided. A semi-mirror laser technique is used in order to amplify the light pulses, to achieve high intensity bursts of light at reduced frequency. The modulator RF output is a double sideband signal that is amplified by way of a linear amplifier, to drive a pair of physically opposed piezo-ceramic modules, in synchronous, in-phase relation. The piezo-ceramic modules, in the form of annular nullwashersnull are located in mutually spaced relation, at the opposite ends of a glass lens, through which phonon wavefronts are propagated. Photo-transistor sensors located adjacent the glass lens provides a monitoring and feed-back circuit, primarily to ensure satisfactory operation of the beacon, while enabling automatic control of the voltage of the system power supply, and enabling the occurrence of asymmetry in light output to be detected.
Abstract:
A nuclear pumped laser capable of producing long pulses of very high power laser radiation is provided. A toroidal fusion reactor provides energetic neutrons which are slowed down by a moderator. The moderated neutrons are converted to energetic particles capable of pumping a lasing medium. The lasing medium is housed in an annular cell surrounding the reactor. The cell includes an annular reflecting mirror at the bottom and an annular output window at the top. A neutron reflector is disposed around the cell to reflect escaping neutrons back into the cell. The laser radiation from the annular window is focused onto a beam compactor which generates a single coherent output laser beam.
Abstract:
A preconditioning beam is used to excite gas particles preferentially along a channel between two electrodes in a laser chamber. The preconditioning beam may be an electron beam or a laser beam. An electrical discharge between the electrodes is conducted along the channel by the excited gas particles to form a gas embedded plasma pinch. Depending on the profile of the discharge, the pinch may be stable or collapsing. The pinch emits vacuum ultraviolet radiation which photodissociates molecules of the photolytic laser medium confined by the chamber. The dissociation creates a population inversion, initiating lasing activity. A resonator system reflects the developing laser pulse back and forth through the chamber to stimulate further emissions and facilitate pulse amplification. The developed pulse is transmitted by appropriate means.
Abstract:
Electromagnetic radiation (10) is provided in a gas mixture (12) including helium in the X(1) state and nitrogen in the Y(1) state. The helium is pumped to excite a high population density of its atoms from the X(1) state to the X(2) state; and photons (15) of suitable frequency are injected into the mixture (12) to excite, via a three-body radiative collision of an atom of X(2) with a molecule of Y(1) and a photon (15): a high population density of molecules of the nitrogen from the Y(1) state to the Y(3) state, followed by a substantially simultaneous return of a substantial portion of the excited helium atoms to the X(1) state and a substantial depopulation of the Y(3) state of the nitrogen, causing the molecules thereof to drop to the lower energy Y(2) state, thereby stimulating the emission from the nitrogen of two photons (10) at the same wavelength for each absorbed photon (15), and thus providing a total quantity of photon emission (10) with sufficient gain for amplification of electromagnetic radiation (10), and finally resulting in the depopulation of the molecules in the Y(2) state by autoionization.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for achieving isotopically selective adiabatic inversion, particularly for improved isotope separation efficiency. In a preferred embodiment for practicing the invention, chirped laser radiation induces photoionization of a vapor state material in isotopically selective excitation and ionization energy steps. A frequency sweep or "chirp" is provided in the excitation laser radiation at a controlled rate and over a range of frequencies which is limited to prevent loss of selectivity in the excitation. The frequency swept radiation has a theoretical capability of producing 100% inversion of ground state particles in the vapor. The features of the invention additionally permit excitation of a material to very high energy states useful in producing high frequency, ultraviolet lasing.
Abstract:
A solid-state laser in which an inverse population is formed at the levels of dope ions of the elements with unfilled electron shells by means of impact excitation of said ions with hot carriers, made on the basis of an electroluminescent capacitor in which the layer of electroluminescent substance is optically homogeneous, doped with said elements, and serves as the active element of the laser. The electrodes of the capacitor perform the functions of the Fabry-Perot cavity mirrors and those of the electrodes in order to produce the electrical field required to excite the active element. One of these electrodes is partially transparent to the laser emission.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for obtaining laser action between an upper energy level and a lower energy level of a gaseous medium, which comprises populating the upper energy level to some degree (short of achieving a conventional inverted population) by any suitable pumping means, and thereafter establishing an inverted population by transiently and selectively depumping the lower energy level such as by exposing the medium to an intense source of radiation which selectively causes the transformation of the lower energy level species to some other energy level. Thus, a thermally pumped/optically depumped gas laser system is produced.
Abstract:
A laser system and method for exciting lasing action in a molecular gas lasing medium which includes cooling the lasing medium to a temperature below about 150 K and injecting fission fragments through the lasing medium so as to preferentially excite low lying vibrational levels of the medium and to cause population inversions therein. The cooled gas lasing medium should have a mass areal density of about 5 .times. 10.sup.-.sup.3 grams/square centimeter, relaxation times of greater than 50 microseconds, and a broad range of excitable vibrational levels which are excitable by molecular collisions.
Abstract:
An apparatus for optically pumping a transversely excited, high pressure gaseous laser system by means of a double electrical discharge using a capacitor-bank network and electronic circuitry for implementing the method. Laser energy pulse outputs of approximately 17 Joules/liter at efficiencies of 24% have been obtained by the inventive concept.
Abstract:
A capacitive discharge in cesium vapor is used to realize an externally controllable Q-switch synchronizing the appearance of pulse trains from a passively mode-locked neodymium glass laser with other events occurring on a microsecond time scale.