Angle amplifying optics using plane and ellipsoidal reflectors
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
InventorAlexander J. Glass
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Abstract
An optical system for providing a wide angle input beam into ellipsoidal laser fusion target illumination systems. The optical system comprises one or more pairs of centrally apertured plane and ellipsoidal mirrors disposed to accept the light input from a conventional lens of modest focal length and thickness, to increase the angular divergence thereof to a value equivalent to that of fast lenses, and to direct the light into the ellipsoidal target illumination system.
Claims5
An optical system for providing wide angle input beams into ellipsoidal target illumination systems comprising:
- a pair of ellipsoidal reflectors positioned to define a clamshell configured target chamber, each of said reflectors having apertures therein, a pair of lens assemblies positioned on opposite sides of said target chamber and aligned with said apertures of said reflectors, at least one pair of plane mirrors having apertures therein positioned on opposite sides of said target chamber intermediate said reflectors and said lens assemblies with said apertures being aligned with said apertures of said reflectors, and at least one pair of ellipsoidal mirrors having apertures therein positioned on opposite sides of said target chamber intermediate said reflectors and said lens assemblies with said apertures being aligned with said apertures of said reflectors, each of said ellipsoidal mirrors being positioned with respect to one of said plane mirrors such that said one plane mirror is adjacent a concave surface of said ellipsoidal mirror.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.