High power laser system

• US 4,567,597 A
• Filed: 10/15/1982
• Issued: 01/28/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Mandella
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Mandella
• Inventors: Mandella, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scott, Jr., Leon
• Application Number:
  US06/434,491
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 372/34, 372/33, 372/61, 372/66, 372/69, 372/70, 372/92
• US Class Current: 372/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/025 of solid state lasers, e.g. housings or mountings
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0401 of optical elements being part of laser resonator, e.g. windows, mirrors, lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0404 Air- or gas cooling, e.g. by dry nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/042 for solid state lasers H01S3/0401 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/102 by controlling the active medium, e.g. by controlling the processes or apparatus for excitation H01S3/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/1026 Controlling the active medium by translation or rotation, e.g. to remove heat from that part of the active medium that is situated on the resonator axis

Abstract

A laser system including a lasing medium (gas, liquid or solid) in an annular configuration with means defining a stationary lasing region in a portion of the lasing medium and means for rotating the lasing medium to rotate heated portions of the medium into heat exchange relationship with the surrounds for cooling and bringing cooled portions of the medium into the lasing region.

Claims

1. A high power laser comprising

an annular lasing medium contained within an envelope having transparent end walls

means defining a resonant region in an active portion of said annular lasing medium between said transparent end walls

means for exciting said active portion of said resonant region of said annular lasing medium and for generating a population inversion in said active portion of said resonant region;

means for rotating said annular lasing medium such that a non-excited or cooled portion of sad lasing medium is rotated into said resonant region and said excited active portion of said excited lasing medium is rotated out of said resonant region to transfer heat generated during excitation of said active portion of said lasing medium to the surrounds.

2. A high power laser as in claim 1 in which said lasing medium is a solid.

3. A high power laser as in claim 2 in which said excitation means is a laser.

4. A high power laser as in claim 1 in which said lasing medium is a liquid.

5. A high power laser as in claim 4 in which said excitation means is a source of optical radiation which produces a population inversion.

6. A high power laser as in claim 1 in which said lasing medium is a gas.

7. A high power laser as in claim 6 in which said excitation means includes a electrical discharge.

8. A high power laser comprising

an annular envelope defined by spaced cylindrical walls sealed to end walls

a fluid lasing medium contained in said envelope

means cooperating with said end walls to define a resonant region in a portion of said envelope,

means for exciting the fluid lasing medium to generate a population inversion in said resonant region of the fluid lasing medium and

means for rotating the envelope whereby the fluid lasing medium is moved from the excited region of the envelope to other regions for cooling by heat exchange through the envelope walls to the surrounds.

9. A high power laser as in claim 8 in which the fluid lasing medium is a gas.

10. A high power laser as in claim 9 in which the means for exciting the lasing medium is electrical discharge.

11. A high power laser as in claim 8 in which said envelope end walls are sufficiently transparent and/or reflective to form said resonant region.

12. A high power laser as in claim 8 in which the fluid lasing medium is a liquid.

13. A high power laser as in claim 10 in which said spaced cylindrical walls are sufficiently conductive to form an electrical discharge.