GB1338801A - Dynamic gas laser apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1338801 Lasers MESSERSCHMITTBOLKOW-BLOHM GmbH 13 Sept 1971 [15 Sept 1970 (3)] 42477/71 Heading H1C A dynamic gas laser is pumped by a nuclear reactor, solar mirror or chemical reaction. Fig. 1, shows a closed circuit around which laser gas is pumped by a blower 13. A nuclear fission or fusion reactor 10 heats the gas to about 1000‹ C. to produce an inverted population in the gas. The gas expands in nozzle 30 and enters a resonator 40 where it lases. The gas is cooled at 12 before re-entering the blower. The population inversion may be achieved also be neutron bombardment from the reactor; uranium may be so placed in the resonator that it is bombarded, or direct bombardment of the gas may be used, Figs, 2, 3 (not shown). This may be used as the sole pumping energy, or to supplement an electrical pumping discharge. The nuclear reactor of, Fig. 1, may be replaced by a solar mirror, Fig. 4 (not shown). In the chemical laser of, Fig. 5, oxygen or air is injected into a combustion chamber 310 via pipe 311, and C 2 N 2 , CO or C 2 H 2 is injected via pipe 312. After ignition at 313, e.g. by a heated platinum coil, the combustion gases expand along nozzle 320, and the vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules cause an inverted population in CO 2 injected at 321 and 322. The resulting mixture passes through a laser resonator or amplifier region 330 before being compressed in a diffuser 340, and is finally exhausted to the atmosphere at F3. Carbon monoxide may be added with the CO 2 , and is similarly excited. Other fuels such as benzene or carbon powder may replace the combustible gases injected into the chamber 310. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specifications 1,054,490 and 1,279,368.