Optically Pumped Microplasma Lasers
AssigneePhysical Sciences, Inc.
InventorsW. Terry Rawlins, Steven J. Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser and methods for providing a continuous wave output beam. The laser and method includes positioning a micro-plasma chip capable of creating micro-plasmas within a resonant cavity. A gas is input into the resonant cavity and flows around the micro-plasma chip. Micro-plasmas ignite and excite the gas to create metastables. The metastables are further excited by an optical pump having an energy sufficient to cause the metastables to lase.
Claims14
A laser for providing a continuous wave output beam, the laser configured to receive light from a light source, the laser comprising:
- a micro-plasma chip;
- a resonant optical cavity for housing the micro-plasma chip at a location that allows a gas flowing within the resonant cavity to surround the micro-plasma chip, such that the micro-plasma chip generates a plurality of micro-plasmas that include excited metastable atoms;
- and
- an optical pump positioned relative to the micro-plasma chip to direct light from the light source onto the micro-plasmas to optically pump the metastable atoms to cause lasing of the gas sufficient to generate the continuous wave output beam.
The laser device of claim where the cavity is between 1 cm and 100 cm in length.
A method for providing a continuous wave output beam from a laser, the laser configured to receive light from a light source, the method comprising:
- providing a flow of gas into a resonant optical cavity;
- applying power to a micro-plasma chip that is positioned within the resonant cavity at a location that allows the gas to surround the micro-plasma chip causing the micro-plasma chip to generate a plurality of micro-plasmas that include excited metastable atoms;
- and
- directing light from the light source onto the plurality of micro-plasmas to optically pump the metastable atoms to cause lasing of the gas sufficient to generate the continuous wave output beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.