Blackhole laser beam terminator

• US 5,237,454 A
• Filed: 01/18/1991
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Sky Research
• Original Assignee: Blue Sky Research
• Inventors: Snyder, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RYAN, JAY
• Application Number:
  US07/643,164
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 350/311, 350/316, 350/600, 350/601, 350/602, 350/618, 350/622, 350/642, 350/276 R, 350/277, 350/278, 374/32, 359/839, 359/857, 359/861, 359/884, 359/601, 359/602
• US Class Current: 359/602
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/702 Auxiliary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/003 Light absorbing elements

Abstract

A terminator system particularly suited for beams of high intensity electromagnetic radiation such as from a laser includes an enclosure having a hole therein and a black mirror mounted in the enclosure. The black mirror has a specularly reflecting surface opposite the hole and is oriented at an angle such that the beam impinging on the hole would be impinging on the specularly reflecting surface and would not be reflected directly back out the hole. The black mirror is constructed of a material that absorbs energy at the wavelength of the incident beam. In another preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of black mirrors for performing a succession of reflections, so that the beam power is reduced significantly at each reflection.

Claims

1. A terminator for an incident beam of electromagnetic energy comprising:

an enclosure having a hole therein;

first black mirror means mounted in said enclosure, said first black mirror means having a polished specularly reflecting surface opposite said hole oriented at an angle such that said beam impinging on said hole would be impinging directly on said specularly reflecting surface and would not be reflected directly back out of said hole, said first black mirror means being constructed of a material that absorbs energy at the wavelength of the incident beam, said black mirror means being characterized as black since any energy entering the enclosure that is not specularly reflected is absorbed by the black mirror means and the percentage of energy absorbed is substantially larger than the energy reflected;

said enclosure, said hole, and said first black mirror means arranged such that substantially no electromagnetic energy entering said hole exits said enclosure, and said enclosure not having any coolant in contact therewith except the ambient atmosphere;

wherein said first black mirror means comprises filter glass.

2. A terminator as in claim 1 wherein said first black mirror further comprises an antireflection coating on said filter glass.

3. A terminator as in claim 1 wherein the interior of said enclosure has a non-specular coating.

4. A terminator as in claim 3 wherein said coating is a matte finish and absorbing at the wavelength of the incident beam.

5. A terminator for an incident beam of electromagnetic energy comprising:

an enclosure having a hole therein;

first black mirror means mounted in said enclosure, said first black mirror means having a polished specularly reflecting surface opposite said hole oriented at an angle such that said beam impinging on said hole would be impinging directly on said specularly reflecting surface and would not be reflected directly back out of said hole, said first black mirror means being constructed of a material that absorbs energy at the wavelength of the incident beam, said black mirror means being characterized as black since any energy entering the enclosure that is not specularly reflected is absorbed by the black mirror means and the percentage of energy absorbed is substantially larger than the energy reflected;

said enclosure, said hole, and said first black mirror means arranged such that substantially no electromagnetic energy entering said hole exits said enclosure, and said enclosure not having any coolant in contact therewith except the ambient atmosphere;

wherein said first black mirror means comprises a semiconductor having a band gap that is less than the energy of the incident beam.

6. A terminator as in claim 5 wherein said first black mirror means has an antireflection coating.

7. A terminator for an incident beam of electromagnetic energy comprising:

an enclosure having a hole therein;

first black mirror means mounted in said enclosure, said first black mirror means having a polished specularly reflecting surface opposite said hole oriented at an angle such that said beam impinging on said hole would be impinging directly on said specularly reflecting surface and would not be reflected directly back out of said hole, said first black mirror means being constructed of a material that absorbs energy at the wavelength of the incident beam, said black mirror means being characterized as black since any energy entering the enclosure that is not specularly reflected is absorbed by the black mirror means and the percentage of energy absorbed is substantially larger than the energy reflected; and

second black mirror means in said enclosure arranged for receiving electromagnetic energy reflected from said first black mirror means that is incident through said hole;

said enclosure, said hole, said first black mirror means, and said second black mirror means arranged such that substantially no electromagnetic energy entering said hole exits said enclosure, and said enclosure not having any coolant in contact therewith except the ambient atmosphere.

8. A terminator for an incident beam of electromagnetic energy comprising:

an enclosure having a hole therein;

first black mirror means mounted in said enclosure, said first black mirror means having a polished specularly reflecting surface opposite said hole oriented at an angle such that said beam impinging on said hole would be impinging directly on said specularly reflecting surface and would not be reflected directly back out of said hole, said first black mirror means being constructed of a material that absorbs energy at the wavelength of the incident beam, said black mirror means being characterized as black since any energy entering the enclosure that is not specularly reflected is absorbed by the black mirror means and the percentage of energy absorbed is substantially larger than the energy reflected; and

a plurality of additional black mirror means in said enclosure, said plurality of additional black mirror means arranged to successively receive electromagnetic energy reflected from said first black mirror means that is incident through said hole;

said enclosure, said hole, said first black mirror means, and said plurality of additional black mirror means arranged such that substantially no electromagnetic energy entering said hole exits said enclosure, and said enclosure not having any coolant in contact therewith except the ambient atmosphere.