Diode-laser system for hyperpolarized He-3 and Xe-129 gas generation and other applications
First Claim
1. A photon emitter comprising:
- a semiconductor laser active medium having an enhanced laser output when said laser is operated at a reduced temperature below 300K;
a refrigeration means in a heat transfer relationship with said semiconductor laser medium to maintain said laser at said reduced temperature with enhanced performance, heat produced by said laser operation when said laser is pumped is transferred to said refrigeration means to thereby enhance photon emission.
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Abstract
Commercially available diode lasers are operated immersed in liquid nitrogen (LN2, 77 K), in another cryo-fluid, or are cryo-cooled (77 K-250 K) by conduction in all high-power (>0.1 W) applications. The result is higher output power per diode chip area, higher conversion efficiency, lower cost per watt of laser power, longer lifetime, higher reliability, smaller thermal gradients inside the laser chip and therefore better thermal management due to the higher thermal conductivity of the semiconductor and substrate material. The cryo-diode lasers are driven by cryogenically cooled and integrated power electronics ciruitry using Cryo-MOSFETs or Cryo-CMOS ICs. Applications of the Cryo-Diode Laser/Cryo-Driver assembly include generation of hyperpolarized He-3 or Xe-129 gases for inert gas magnetic resonance imaging of the airways in human beings, metal and materials working and processing with laser tools, “pumping” solid-state lasers and many others. In high-power laser applications, the invention makes use of the “load shedding” capability of liquid nitrogen. The Cryo-Diode Laser/Cryo-Driver assembly can also be supplied with cooling fluid from an LN2 distribution system provided by a HTS cable. MLI is used for energy storage in laser pulse power applications.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A photon emitter comprising:
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a semiconductor laser active medium having an enhanced laser output when said laser is operated at a reduced temperature below 300K;
a refrigeration means in a heat transfer relationship with said semiconductor laser medium to maintain said laser at said reduced temperature with enhanced performance, heat produced by said laser operation when said laser is pumped is transferred to said refrigeration means to thereby enhance photon emission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A photon emitter as in claim 18, wherein said semiconductor driver circuit is integrated with a power converter, said converter including at least one of cryo-MOSFETS and cryo-CMOS integrated circuits, said converter integrated circuits providing one of alternating current to direct current conversion and direct current to direct current conversion, and having enhanced performance at cryogenic temperatures.
Specification