US3624548A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Discharge tube configuration of metal-vapor ion laser
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1969-04-09
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1989-04-09
Abstract
Abstract A discharge tube configuration for a cadmium-ion laser is disclosed which prevents deposition of cadmium on the interior surfaces of the Brewster''s-angle windows of the discharge tube. A split excitation arrangement is employed with a cathode in the center and an anode at either end; and the phenomenon of cataphoresis is used to advantage by disposing a pair of reservoirs of metallic cadmium nearer to respective ones of the anodes than to the cathode. The reservoirs have openings adjacent the discharge path, and are controlled in temperature independently of the discharge tube temperature. An appropriately uniform density of cadmium ions as a minority constituent in an auxiliary gas of helium is also achieved by this arrangement in cooperation with the cataphoresis.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P Sosnowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/031
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the auxiliary gas has a first partial pressure, the vapor of said solid having a second partial pressure substantially less than said first partial pressure, said discharge-supplying means being characterized by a supplied current greater than a threshold level making said second partial pressure substantially uniform between said pair of reservoirs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said reservoirs are displaced axially from the anodes toward the cathode by a first distance, the supplied current having a value producing cataphoresis sufficient in relationship to said first distance and the diffusion length of the vapor of said solid to keep substantially all of said vapor away from the windows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
225 words
Apparatus for producing stimulated emission of radiation, comprising means forming an interaction region in which the stimulated emission of radiation can occur and having windows through which a portion of the radiation can be extracted for utilization, means for exciting said laser comprising an anode disposed relatively near to one of said windows, a cathode disposed farther from both of said windows than said anode is from said one window, means for supplying an active medium in said region, comprising an auxiliary gas contained by the interaction region forming means and a single reservoir adjoining said forming means between said anode and said cathode and containing a vaporizable ionizable solid, said single reservoir being disposed closer to said anode than to said cathode and having an opening into said interaction region, means for supplying a direct-current electrical discharge between said anode and said cathode sufficient to produce cataphoresis predominant over diffusion of said vaporizable solid, said anode, reservoir and cathode being axially spaced from each other to achieve, in cooperation with said discharge-supplying means, a substantially uniform density distribution of said vaporizable ionizable solid throughout tHe major portion of the distance between said anode and said cathode, said windows being axially spaced from said anode and said cathode to provide a vanishingly small density of said vaporizable ionizable solid in the vicinity of said windows.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the auxiliary gas has a first partial pressure, the vapor of said solid having a second partial pressure substantially less than said first partial pressure, said discharge-supplying means being characterized by a supplied current greater than a threshold level making said second partial pressure substantially uniform throughout the major portion of the distance between said anode and said cathode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |