High power tunable infrared mirrorless laser
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsJohn W. Glessner, Steven J. Davis, Leonard Hanko
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Abstract
The invention comprises a mirrorless iodine laser having an elongated sealed iodine cell for both receiving and emitting laser energy. A pumping laser is used for projecting a laser beam into the sealed cell along its long axis in order to excite the iodine molecules within the cell and cause their release of laser energy. A heater is used for heating the sealed cell to a temperature that increases the amplified spontaneous emissions (ASE) of the iodine in the sealed cell when it is excited by the pumping laser.
Claims19
A mirrorless iodine laser comprising:
- (a) an elongated sealed cell having a long axis and which contains iodine;
- (b) a pumping laser for projecting a laser beam into the sealed cell along its long axis in order to cause said iodine to lase;
- and
- (c) a heater means for heating said sealed cell to a temperature that increases amplified spontaneous emissions from said iodine in said sealed cell wherein iodine laser emissions propagate primarily along the long axis of the sealed cell.
A mirrorless iodine laser comprising
- (a) an elongated sealed cell comprising an iodine reservoir and having a long axis;
- (b) a pumping laser for projecting a laser beam into the sealed cell along its long axis in order to cause said iodine to lase, wherein the pumping laser projects a laser beam at a preselected wavelength which is shorter than the desired wavelength of iodine laser emissions;
- and
- (c) a heater for heating said sealed cell to between 50 degrees and 77 degrees C. in order to increase amplified spontaneous emissions from said iodine in said sealed cell and wherein said iodine laser emissions propagate primarily along the long axis of the sealed cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.