Method of energizing a material

• US 4,161,436 A
• Filed: 10/06/1977
• Issued: 07/17/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patlex Corporation (KeyCorp)
• Original Assignee: Patlex Corporation (KeyCorp)
• Inventors: Gould, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Howard S.
• Application Number:
  US05/840,050
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 204/157.1 R, 204/DIG. 11
• US Class Current: 204/157.41
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/121 Coherent waves, e.g. laser beams lasers per se H01S3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/091 using optical pumping

Abstract

This application discloses light amplifier apparatus and uses for the same. A light amplifier apparatus is disclosed in which population inversion is created by optical pumping. Another light amplifier apparatus is disclosed in which population inversion is produced by collisions with other particles. Uses for light amplifiers are taught including heating of material which includes evaporation of the same, distance measuring, communication systems, television, and certain industrial applications. This application also teaches the use of optical elements at Brewster'"'"'s angle for the purpose of polarization and reducing losses in passing a light beam along a path.

Claims

1. A method of energizing a material including the steps of:

(a) providing a substance in a bounded volume, the atoms, ions or molecules of which have at least a pair of energy states which differ in energy by an amount corresponding to light frequencies;

(b) exciting atoms, ions or molecules of said substance within said bounded volume to produce a greater population of atoms, ions or molecules of said substance in a higher of said energy states;

(c) directing substantially collimated stimulating light along a path through said bounded volume which enables the stimulating light to selectively stimulate emission of substantially collimated light; and

(d) shining said emitted substantially collimated light onto said material which includes a mixture of reactable chemicals whereby said emitted substantially collimated light promotes reaction between said chemicals.

2. A method of energizing a material including the steps of:

(a) providing a substance in a bounded volume, the atoms, ions or molecules of which have at least a pair of energy states which differ in energy by an amount corresponding to light frequencies;

(b) exciting atoms, ions or molecules of said substance within said bounded volume to produce a greater population of atoms, ions or molecules of said substance in a higher of said energy states;

(c) directing substantially collimated stimulating light along a path through said bounded volume which enables the stimulating light to selectively stimulate emission of substantially collimated light; and

(d) shining said emitted substantially collimated light onto said material so that at least a portion of said material dissociates in response to said emitted substantially collimated light.

3. A method of energizing a material including the steps of:

(a) providing a substance in a bounded volume, the atoms, ions or molecules of which have at least a pair of energy states which differ in energy by an amount corresponding to light frequencies;

(b) exciting atoms, ions or molecules of said substance within said bounded volume to produce a greater population of atoms, ions or molecules of said substance in a higher of said energy states;

(c) directing substantially collimated stimulating light along a path through said bounded volume which enables the stimulating light to selectively stimulate emission of substantially collimated light; and

(d) shining said emitted substantially collimated light onto said material in which said material responds to said emitted substantially collimated light by undergoing an exothermic process thereby releasing additional energy.