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US 10,582,603 B2Granted
Optical resonators that utilize plasma confinement of a laser gain media
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJames A. Grossnickle, Dejan Nikic
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Laser amplification utilizing plasma confinement of a gas laser gain media is described. The gas laser gain media is compressed into plasma utilizing a self-reinforcing magnetic field referred to a plasma pinch (e.g., a flow stabilized z-pinch). In the plasma pinch, the gas laser gain media is compressed to a high density, which improves the gain of the media. An optical resonator partially surrounds the plasma pinch and utilizes the laser gain media compressed within the plasma pinch to generate an output of coherent light.
Claims23
An apparatus comprising:
- a plasma confinement device configured to generate a plasma pinch of at least one gas of a laser gain media, wherein the plasma confinement device comprises:
- an outer electrode in a form of a hollow cylinder;
- an inner electrode within an interior of the outer electrode;
- and
- a power source electrically coupled to the outer electrode and the inner electrode that is configured to generate an electric arc between the outer electrode and the inner electrode through the laser gain media,
- wherein the electric arc travels along an interior surface of the outer electrode towards an end of the outer electrode to generate the plasma pinch;
- and
- an optical resonator partially surrounding the plasma pinch that is configured to utilize the laser gain media compressed within the plasma pinch to generate an output of coherent light.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- generating a plasma pinch of at least one gas of a laser gain media, by:
- generating an electric arc through the laser gain media between an outer electrode in a form of a hollow cylinder and an inner electrode within an interior of the outer electrode, wherein the electric arc travels along an interior surface of the outer electrode towards an end of the outer electrode to generate the plasma pinch;
- and
- generating an output of coherent light utilizing an optical resonator that partially surrounds the laser gain media compressed within the plasma pinch.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- an outer electrode in a form of a hollow cylinder having an end with an opening;
- an inner electrode in a form of a hollow cylinder that is centered within an interior of the outer electrode;
- at least one gas supply configured to provide a laser gain media to the interior;
- a power source electrically coupled to the outer electrode and the inner electrode that is configured to generate an electric arc between the outer electrode and the inner electrode, wherein the electric arc travels along an interior surface of the outer electrode towards the opening to form a plasma pinch between the inner electrode and the opening;
- a reflective mirror within the inner electrode;
- a partially reflective mirror proximate to the opening that is optically coupled to the reflective mirror;
- a first magnetic shield proximate to the reflective mirror that is configured to generate a magnetic field that directs ionized laser gain media away from the reflective mirror;
- and
- a second magnetic shield proximate to the partially reflective mirror that is configured to generate a magnetic field that directs ionized laser gain media away from the partially reflective mirror.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.