Laser nozzle and iodine injection for coil
AssigneeKSY Corporation
InventorGeorge Emanuel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved nozzle and iodine injector system for use in a COIL are disclosed. The improved nozzle is a two-dimensional, minimum length nozzle with a curved sonic line. The iodine injection system utilizes a series of slender struts for iodine injection into the oxygen stream through a series of small orifices that are located along the base of each strut. The struts are located within the nozzle such that the need for a diluent gas for the iodine is reduced. The use of the nozzle and iodine injection system, particularly when combined with the SOG disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/453,148, have the potential for yielding a highly efficient, high power, optically superior COIL device that is compact, scalable, can operate in space, and has good pressure recovery potential.
Claims56
An iodine injection system for injecting iodine into a nozzle for a laser, wherein the nozzle is a symmetric two dimensional minimum length nozzle with a curved sonic line that has a throat and an exit plane, comprising at least one strut that is located downstream of the nozzle throat.
An iodine injection strut comprising:
- an upstream edge that is a sharp wedge less than 45°;
- an iodine feed duct manifolded for iodine feed from a top and a bottom end of the strut;
- at least one orifice for injecting iodine;
- and
- a heating element.
A nozzle for a COIL comprising a symmetric two dimensional minimum length nozzle with a curved sonic line.
A system for delivering singlet oxygen and iodine to a COIL laser cavity comprising:
- a singlet oxygen generator;
- a symmetric two dimensional minimum length nozzle with a curved sonic line;
- and
- at least one iodine injection strut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.