Claims
- 1. Laser apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a gas in said enclosure comprising an inert buffer gas and an active gas having the formula C.sub.n Y.sub.2n+1 X, wherein Y is H or F, X is either I or Br and n is 1, 2, 3 or 4;
- spaced apart electrode means defining a volume discharge region therebetween;
- means for producing a flow of said gas through said volume discharge region;
- means for exciting said gas by producing electrons to collide with the molecules of said active gas to produce electrically excited atomic iodine or bromine;
- said means for exciting said gas including;
- (1) means for providing free electrons to the volume discharge region both prior to and during a volumetric electrical discharge; and
- (2) pulse dc excitation means operably connected to said spaced apart electrodes to produce a volumetric electrical discharge across said electrode to excite said gas; and
- means for producing stimulated emission of radiation from said gas.
- 2. The laser of claim 1 wherein said means for providing free electrons to said volume discharge region include an electron beam source.
- 3. The laser of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying free electrons to said volume discharge region includes a source of ultraviolet radiation.
- 4. The laser of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying free electrons produces said free electrons in response to pulse dc excitation from said pulse dc excitation means.
- 5. A method for producing a lasing transition between the .sup.2 P.sub.1/2 and .sup.2 P.sub.3/2 energy levels of the ground electronic states of atomic iodine or atomic bromine in an enclosure containing a gas flowing through a volume discharge region defined between spaced apart electrodes, said gas comprising an inert buffer gas and an active gas having the formula C.sub.n Y.sub.n+1 X, wherein Y is H or F, X is either I or Br and n is 1, 2, 3 or 4, comprising the steps of:
- flowing said gas through the volume discharge region defined between said electrodes,
- introducing free electrons into said volume discharge region both prior to and during a volumetric electrical discharge,
- exciting said gas in response to a volumetric electrical discharge in said volume discharge region by impact collision between free electrons and the molecules of said active gas to produce electrically excited atomic iodine or bromine; and
- producing stimulated emission of radiation from said gas.
- 6. A laser apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure;
- an atomic iodine laser gas in said enclosure;
- spaced apart electrode means defining a volume discharge region therebetween;
- means for flowing said laser gas through said volume discharge region;
- means for supplying free electrons into said volume discharge region both prior to and during a volumetric electrical discharge;
- pulse dc excitation means operably connected to said spaced apart electrode means to produce a volumetric electrical discharge in said volume discharge region causing electrons to collide with the molecules of said atomic iodine laser gas to produce electrical excited atomic iodine; and
- means for producing stimulated emission of radiation from said atomic iodine laser gas.
- 7. A laser apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure;
- an atomic bromine laser gas in said enclosure;
- spaced apart electrode means defining a volume discharge region therebetween;
- means for flowing said laser gas through said volume discharge region;
- means for supplying free electrons into said volume discharge region both prior to and during a volumetric electrical discharge;
- pulse dc excitation means operably connected to said spaced apart electrode means to produce a volumetric electrical discharge in said volume discharge region causing electrons to collide with the molecules of said atomic bromine laser gas to produce electrical excited atomic bromine; and
- means for producing stimulated emission of radiation from said atomic bromine laser gas.
- 8. A method for producing stimulated emission of radiation from an atomic iodine laser gas medium based on the electrical dissociation of excited iodine molecules, comprising the steps of:
- flowing an atomic iodine laser gas composition through a volume discharge region defined between spaced apart electrodes,
- supplying free electrons to said volume discharge region before initiating a volumetric electrical discharge,
- applying pulse dc electrical excitation to said electrodes to initiate a volumetric electrical discharge,
- continually supplying free electrons to said volume discharge region during said volumetric electrical discharge,
- exciting the iodine molecules by collision between the free electrons and the iodine molecules during said volumetric electrical discharge, the excited iodine molecules subsequently dissociating to form excited iodine; and
- producing stimulated emission of radiation from said atomic iodine laser gas medium.
- 9. A method for producing stimulated emission of radiation from an atomic bromine laser gas medium based on the electrical dissociation of excited bromine molecules, comprising the steps of:
- flowing an atomic bromine laser gas composition through a volume discharge region defined between spaced apart electrodes,
- supplying free electrons to said volume discharge region before initiating a volumetric electrical discharge,
- applying pulse dc electrical excitation to said electrodes to initiate a volumetric electrical discharge,
- continually supplying free electrons to said volume discharge region during said volumetric electrical discharge,
- exciting the bromine molecules by collision between the free electrons and the bromine molecules during said volumetric electrical discharge, the excited bromine molecules subsequently dissociating to form excited bromine; and
- producing stimulated emission of radiation from said atomic bromine laser gas medium.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 759,504, filed Jan. 14, 1977, now abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 577,954, filed May 15, 1975, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Acknowledgment of Government Contract
The invention herein described was made in the course of or under a contract with the Department of the Air Force.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3641454 |
Krawetz |
Feb 1972 |
|
3676797 |
Kovacs |
Jul 1972 |
|
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
N. G. Basov et al, "Iodine Laser Emitting Short Pulses of 50 J Energy and 5 nsec. Duration," Sov. J. Quant. Electron. vol. 3, No. 6, May-Jun. 1974. |
"More Laser Power with Electron-Beam Control", Physics Today, Jan. 1972, pp. 17-19. |
"Atomic-Iodine Contender for Fusion Delivers 1.2 Gw in 10-nsec. Pulses", Laser Focus, Jul. 1972, pp. 24 and 26. |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
759504 |
Jan 1977 |
|
Parent |
577954 |
May 1975 |
|