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US 2017/0179668 A1Published application
Gas Flow Laser
OwnerAlexander V. KRASNOVinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods relating to a gas flow laser are disclosed herein. The gas flow laser includes an eccentrically aligned inner casing within a cylindrical or oval outer shell thereby creating a narrow gas flow path in which the speed of the gas flow may approach sonic or supersonic speeds. An optical resonator is within the narrow gas flow path, and one or more diffusers are located downstream of the optical resonator to improve operating efficiency of the gas flow laser.
Claims21
A closed loop gas flow laser, comprising:
- an outer shell and an inner casing eccentrically aligned within said outer shell, said outer shell electrically grounded and said inner casing including a dielectric material;
- an inner surface of said inner casing on which a radio frequency (RF) electrode is positioned, said RF electrode in electrical contact with a RF power supply;
- a gas flow path substantially formed between said outer shell and said inner casing;
- a plasma cavity and an optical resonator cavity formed between said outer shell and said inner casing in said gas flow path;
- a dielectric insulating layer on an inner surface of said outer shell positioned adjacent at least one of said plasma cavity and said optical resonator cavity;
- a diffuser located in said gas flow path downstream of said optical resonator cavity, said diffuser having a first edge proximate said optical resonator and a second edge opposite said first edge, said diffuser widening from said first edge to a widest point and tapering from said widest point to said second edge;
- and
- an external blower in fluid communication with said gas flow path.
5 more elements
A gas flow laser, comprising:
- an outer shell and an inner casing, said inner casing eccentrically aligned with said outer shell thereby creating a gas flow path having a narrowed gas flow area;
- said inner casing having a radio frequency (RF) electrode on an interior surface adjacent said narrowed gas flow area, said RF electrode in electrical communication with a RF power supply;
- a dielectric insulating layer on an interior surface of said outer shell, said dielectric insulating layer positioned opposite said narrowed gas flow area from said RF electrode;
- a plasma cavity formed in said narrowed gas flow area and interposed between said RF electrode and said interior surface of said outer shell;
- an optical resonator in said narrowed gas flow area and at least one of within said plasma cavity and downstream of said plasma cavity, said optical resonator at least partially defined by an optical source and an output coupler;
- at least one diffuser located downstream of said optical resonator, said at least one diffuser having a first edge proximate said optical resonator, a second edge opposite said first edge, and a widest point between said first edge and said second edge.
3 more elements
A gas flow laser, comprising:
- an elliptically shaped outer shell and an elliptically shaped inner casing, said inner casing eccentrically aligned with said outer shell thereby creating a gas flow path having a narrowed gas flow area between the elliptically shaped outer shell and the elliptically shaped inner casing;
- the inner casing having a radio frequency electrode on an interior surface adjacent said narrowed gas flow area, said RF electrode in electrical communication with a RF power supply;
- a dielectric insulating layer on an interior surface of said outer shell, said dielectric insulating layer positioned opposite said narrowed gas flow area from said RF electrode;
- a plasma cavity formed in said narrowed gas flow area and interposed between said RF electrode and said interior surface of said outer shell in the narrowed gas flow area between the eccentrically aligned elliptically shaped outer shell and the elliptically shaped inner casing;
- an optical resonator in said narrowed gas flow area and at least one of within said plasma cavity and downstream of said plasma cavity, said optical resonator at least partially defined by an optical source and an output coupler;
- at least one gas decelerating shock located downstream of said optical resonator, said at least one shock positioned at a widening point of the eccentrically aligned elliptically shaped outer shell and elliptically shaped inner casing;
- a blower providing an inlet gas flow to said gas flow path;
- at least one of a filter and a catalyst combined with a heat exchanger positioned downstream of said optical resonator;
- wherein the heat exchanger is spaced apart from the at least one of the filter and catalyst;
- the eccentrically aligned outer shell and inner shell forming the narrowed gas flow area positioned adjacent the plasma cavity and having a wider separation than said narrowed gas flow area adjacent the heat exchanger.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.