US3904983A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Parasitic mode suppressor for high power lasers
Assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-16
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1993-04-16
Abstract
Abstract Parasitic modes in a high power folded cavity gas transport laser are suppressed by reflective apertured plates mounted between the folding mirrors and the active or lasing region and inclined with respect to each other and the reflecting planes of the mirrors. The principal laser beam traverses the lasing region several times by successive reflections from the folding mirrors on opposite sides. The areas of each mirror available for reflecting the beam are limited to the portions of the mirror behind several plate apertures. Parasitic modes generated by the laser strike either or both of the inclined plates and are reflected out of and away from the laser cavity and are thus suppressed.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick E Moreno
- 👤 Russell F Kirk
- 👤 Jack D Foster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 21:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08018; H01S3/0804; H01S3/0805; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/0979
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
In a high power laser having an optical cavity defined in part by a pair of folding mirrors on opposite sides of the laser discharge zone, the improvement of a parasitic mode suppressor comprising an optical reflector disposed between one of the folding mirrors and the discharge zone within which parasitic oscillation modes are generated and having a reflecting surface inclined at an acute angle greater than zero-degrees with respect to the plane of reflection of said one folding mirror for reflecting said parasitic oscillation modes incident upon it out of said discharge zone, said reflector having a plurality of apertures aligned respectively with the portions of said one folding mirror from which the primary laser beam is successively reflected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a high power laser having an optical cavity defined in part by a pair of folding mirrors on opposite sides of the laser discharge zone, the improvement of a parasitic mode suppressor comprising an optical reflector disposed between one of the folding mirrors and the discharge zone within which parasitic oscillation modes are generated and having a reflecting surface inclined at an acute angle greater than zero-degrees with respect to the plane of reflection of said one folding mirror for reflecting said parasitic oscillation modes incident upon it out of said discharge zone, said reflector having a plurality of apertures aligned respectively with the portions of said one folding mirror from which the primary laser beam is successively reflected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The high power laser according to claim 1 with another of said reflectors mounted between the other folding mirror and the discharge zone, said reflectors being angularly disposed with respect to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a high power gas transport laser having a duct through which a gaseous lasing medium moves, means for producing an electrical discharge zone through said gas in said duct, and an optical cavity comprising an end mirror and an output mirror and two intermediate folding mirrors on opposite sides of the discharge zone within which parasitic oscillation modes are generated, the improvement of means for suppressing said parasitic modes generated in said discharge zone comprising a reflecting plate disposed between each folding mirror and the discharge zone, each of said plates having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures aligned with those portions of the associated folding mirror from which the primary laser beam is normally reflected, the surface of said plate facing the discharge zone being optically reflective and longitudinally inclined relative to the reflecting plane of the mirror, the opposed surfaces of said reflecting plates being angularly related to each other for longitudinally reflecting said parasitic modes incident upon it out of said discharge zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a high power gas transport laser having a duct through which a gaseous lasing medium moves, means for producing an electrical discharge zone through said gas in said duct, and an optical cavity comprising an end mirror and an output mirror and two intermediate folding mirrors on opposite sides of the discharge zone within which parasitic oscillation modes are generated, the improvement of means for suppressing said parasitic modes generated in said discharge zone comprising a reflecting plate disposed between each folding mirror and the discharge zone, each of said plates having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures aligned with those portions of the associated folding mirror from which the primary laser beam is normally reflected, the surface of said plate facing the discharge zone being optically reflective and longitudinally inclined relative to the reflecting plane of the mirror, the opposed surfaces of said reflecting plates being angularly related to each other for longitudinally reflecting said parasitic modes incident upon it out of said discharge zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser according to claim 3 in which said opposed surfaces of the reflecting plates diverge from each other in a direction longitudinal of said duct.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3757251A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |