CO.sub.2 laser
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
InventorJohn P. Rink
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to a pulsed gas laser comprising an optical resonant cavity, a CO.sub.2 lasing medium, structure for containing the CO.sub.2 lasing medium within the optical cavity and a device for causing a population inversion in the lasing medium, with a novel improvement comprising structure for causing a laser pulse comprising a wavelength in the near 14 .mu.m and near 16 .mu.m range. The structure for cooling the CO.sub.2 lasing medium to less than about -40.degree. C as well is a structure for pumping the maximum inversion of CO.sub.2 molecules within the lasing medium by minimizing the population in the 010 level.
Claims5
In a pulsed gas laser comprising an optical resonant cavity, a Co.sub.2 lasing medium, means for comprising said CO.sub.2 lasing medium within said optical cavity, and means for causing a population inversion in said lasing medium, an improvement comprising:
- means for cooling the CO.sub.2 lasers as to lower the number of CO.sub.2 molecules already at the 010 level to obtain an inversion between the 100 and 010 energy levels and the 010 energy levels to provide a laser pulse comprising a wavelength of about 14 .mu.m and about 16 .mu.m.
A device for producing near 14 and near 16 .mu.m radiation in a Co.sub.2 gas laser comprising:
- means for cooling said CO.sub.2 gas to decrease the number of molecules in the 010 energy state in said CO.sub.2 gas;
- means for increasing the number of molecules of said CO.sub.2 gas in the 020 and 100 energy states;
- means for tuning said laser cavity to transmit both 9.4 to 10.6 .mu.m wavelength radiation and near 14 .mu.m and near 16 .mu.m wavelength radiation;
- whereby vibration inversion from said 020 and 100 to said 010 level is enhanced to produce near 14 and near 16 .mu.m radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.