US4176326A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
CF4 laser
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1977-10-20
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Granted: 1979-11-27
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Expires: 1997-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A CF 4 laser for producing near 16 μm radiation utilizing a line tunable CO 2 laser as an optical pumping source. The device uses a cryogenically cooled optically pumped cell containing molecular CF 4 gas. An optical resonant cavity formed around the optically pumped cell induces oscillations of near 16 μm radiation from the ν 2 +ν 4 →ν 2 transition in the molecular CF 4 gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Curt Wittig
- 👤 Joe J. Tiee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/14; H01S3/22; H01S3/223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A laser for producing near 16 μm coherent radiation comprising: line tunable CO 2 excitation means for emitting coherent radiation in the absorption spectrum of CF 4 molecular gas; an optically pumped cell aligned with said CO 2 excitation means; means for cooling said optically pumped cell; molecular CF 4 gas retained within said optically pumped cell; optical resonant cavity means surrounding said optically pumped cell such that said molecular CF 4 gas is optically pumped by said CO 2 excitation means to stimulate emission near 16 μm from the transition ν 2 +ν 4 →ν 2 of CF 4 molecular gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A laser for producing near 16 μm coherent radiation comprising: line tunable CO 2 excitation means for emitting coherent radiation in the absorption spectrum of CF 4 molecular gas; an optically pumped cell aligned with said CO 2 excitation means; means for cooling said optically pumped cell; molecular CF 4 gas retained within said optically pumped cell; optical resonant cavity means surrounding said optically pumped cell such that said molecular CF 4 gas is optically pumped by said CO 2 excitation means to stimulate emission near 16 μm from the transition ν 2 +ν 4 →ν 2 of CF 4 molecular gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The laser of claim 1 wherein said means for cooling said optically pumped cell comprises a trough surrounding said cell containing liquid nitrogen for cryogenically cooling said molecular CF 4 gas.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for producing near 16 μm coherent radiation comprising: producing a coherent optical pumping signal from stimulated emission by a CO 2 laser having a frequency suitable for exciting the absorption spectrum of CF 4 molecular gas; irradiating an optically pumped cell containing said molecular CF 4 gas with said coherent optical pumping signal; forming an optical resonant cavity around said optically pumped cell suitable for stimulating emission of near 16 μm radiation.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for producing near 16 μm coherent radiation comprising: producing a coherent optical pumping signal from stimulated emission by a CO 2 laser having a frequency suitable for exciting the absorption spectrum of CF 4 molecular gas; irradiating an optically pumped cell containing said molecular CF 4 gas with said coherent optical pumping signal; forming an optical resonant cavity around said optically pumped cell suitable for stimulating emission of near 16 μm radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said step of producing a coherent optical pumping signal comprises producing a coherent optical pumping signal having wavelengths which range between approximately 9.2 μm and 9.6 μm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
An optically pumped laser comprising: an optically pumped cell containing molecular CF 4 gas; an optical resonant cavity aligned with said optically pumped cell for inducing oscillations of near 16 μm radiation; line tunable CO 2 laser means for optically pumping the ν 2 +ν 4 excitation level of said molecular CF 4 gas at wavelengths which range between approximately 9.2 μm and 9.6 μm to produce stimulated coherent radiation from the transition ν 2 +ν 4 →ν 2 of said molecular CF 4 gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
An optically pumped laser comprising: an optically pumped cell containing molecular CF 4 gas; an optical resonant cavity aligned with said optically pumped cell for inducing oscillations of near 16 μm radiation; line tunable CO 2 laser means for optically pumping the ν 2 +ν 4 excitation level of said molecular CF 4 gas at wavelengths which range between approximately 9.2 μm and 9.6 μm to produce stimulated coherent radiation from the transition ν 2 +ν 4 →ν 2 of said molecular CF 4 gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optically pumped laser of claim 5 further comprising means for cooling said molecular CF 4 gas in said optically pumped cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A CF 4 laser comprising: molecular CF 4 gas; CO 2 laser means for pumping the ν 2 +ν 4 excitation level of said molecular CF 4 gas; optical resonant means for inducing oscillations of near 16 μm laser radiation from the transition ν 2 +ν 4 →ν 2 in said molecular CF 4 gas to produce a near 16 μm laser signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A CF 4 laser comprising: molecular CF 4 gas; CO 2 laser means for pumping the ν 2 +ν 4 excitation level of said molecular CF 4 gas; optical resonant means for inducing oscillations of near 16 μm laser radiation from the transition ν 2 +ν 4 →ν 2 in said molecular CF 4 gas to produce a near 16 μm laser signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The CF 4 laser of claim 7 further comprising means for cooling said molecular CF 4 gas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4053851A
Cited
US4063190A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-26 | 1983-05-28 | 1983-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-26 | 1987-05-28 | 1987-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-26 | 1991-05-28 | 1991-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |