US 9,653,869 B1 · Optical surface preservation techniques and apparatus

Abstract

Techniques and architecture are disclosed for preserving optical surfaces (e.g., windows, coatings, etc.) in a flowing gas amplifier laser system, such as a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) system. In some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used, for example, to protect optical surfaces in a DPAL system from: (1) chemical attack by pump-bleached alkali vapor atoms and/or ions; and/or (2) fouling by adherence thereto of reaction products/soot produced in the DPAL. Also, in some instances, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to substantially match the geometry of the pumping volume with that of the lasing volume, thereby minimizing or otherwise reducing the effects of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) on DPAL output power. Furthermore, in some cases, the disclosed techniques/architecture can be used to provide a DPAL system capable of producing a beam output power in the range of about 20 kW to 10 MW, or greater.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) having an optical pumping cavity;
and
a flow assembly optically coupled with the optical pumping cavity, the flow assembly comprising:
a first conduit having a nozzle portion, a diffuser portion, and a gap there between, wherein the first conduit is configured to deliver a flow of a lasing gas to the optical pumping cavity;
and
a second conduit surrounding the first conduit, wherein the second conduit is configured to deliver a flow of a first non-alkali gas to the optical pumping cavity;
wherein the flow of the first non-alkali gas circumscribes the flow of the lasing gas.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/063,727Filed 25 Oct 2013 · us provisional application

Priority

26 Oct 2012

Granted

16 May 2017

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H01S 3/031
Of gas laser discharge tubes: metal vapour lasers, e.g. metal vapour generation
H01S 3/032
Of gas laser discharge tubes: for confinement of the discharge, e.g. by special features of the discharge constricting tube
H01S 3/0346
Optical devices within, or forming part of, the tube, e.g. windows, mirrors: protection of windows or mirrors against deleterious effects
H01S 3/036
Of gas laser discharge tubes: means for obtaining or maintaining the desired gas pressure within the tube, e.g. by gettering, replenishing; Means…

Optical surface preservation techniques and apparatus

Life of this patent

Optical surface preservation techniques and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11