Litton Systems, Inc.

International Laser Systems, Inc.

Anthony P Adsett

A laser diode mount having a thermal coupling for a laser diode heat sink utilizes a shape memory alloy in the maintaining of laser diode arrays within an operational temperature bandwidth. A diode carrier member holds a laser diode array and is movably attached with posts to a heat sink and spaced by a variable air gap from the heat sink thermal pad. The diode carrier member can move on the posts to vary the gap and a shape memory alloy member is shaped as a coil or spring and coupled between the diode carrier member and the heat sink thermal pad for use in varying the gap therebetween. The shape memory alloy member works against a conventional spring. The heat sink thermal pad may be part of a forced convection heat sink. The shape memory alloy allows for a variable thermal impedance by the self-regulation of an air gap thickness between a laser diode array and the heat sink which allows a rapid warm-up of the diodes by providing thermal isolation from the heat sink during warm-up and then control of the heat transfer to the heat sink when the diodes reach their normal operating temperature.

Laser diode mount

A method and apparatus for pumping a coolant through a laser cavity to cool the laser. The apparatus has a titanium housing and a casing containing a rotatable titanium hollow shaft. A titanium impeller is located at one end of the shaft within the housing and rotates with the shaft to pump the fluid through a laser. Disposed within casing and attached to the shaft are a plurality of permanent magnets. External to the casing are stator windings through which current flows to create a magnetic field that rotates the permanent magnets, shaft and impeller. When the impeller is rotated, the coolant is passed through the housing and to the laser. The impeller also forces the fluid passing through the shaft and into the casing to cool and lubricate the pump. The magnets are encased in a titanium sleeve attached to the titanium shaft to prevent the coolant from contacting with the magnets.

Laser pump

A gas laser apparatus includes a ceramic wave guide having a bore extending therethrough and a pair of slots formed in the exterior thereof with electrodes formed in the slots. An optical assembly is mounted on each end of the waveguide and includes a mirror which is attached to a metal ring in the optical assembly where they harden a fused glass frit material. A plurality of invar metal rods connects the optical assemblies and has adjustment screws on each end of each rod for tilting a portion of the optical assembly on a metal flexure member to align the mirrors. The tubes and rods in the optical assemblies holding each mirror have temperature compensating materials and sizes to maintain the mirror in alignment, and separation over wide ambient and operating temperatures. A process of making a gas laser includes the steps of selecting an optical mirror blank, making a metal mirror blank support ring having an opening therethrough for mounting the selected mirror blank therein, applying a glass paste material between the mirror blank and the mirror support ring, heating the mirror blank and the mirror blank support ring and glass paste material to a temperature in excess of 400 degrees centigrade to seal the mirror blank to the metal mirror blank support ring with a glass frit seal, and then attaching the support ring to a laser optical assembly on each end of a laser assembly.

Method of making a gas laser

A heat exchanger apparatus has a titanium liquid circuit for the passage of a liquid to be cooled. The liquid circuit has a liquid input and a liquid output and is formed with titanium walls having coacting ribs formed on two walls to spread the liquid passing therethrough. A pair of cooling circuits located adjacent to the liquid circuit has air or another cooling fluid passed therethrough for cooling the liquid passing through the liquid circuit. Each cooling circuit is attached adjacent one titanium wall of the liquid circuit and each has a purality of metallic cooling fins, such as pin fins, fixedly soldered or brazed to the titanium wall. The titanium liquid side has no brazed or soldered joint and this prevents corrosion and contamination, while the heat exchanger efficiency is enhanced by the thin walls of titanium having high heat transfer pin fins soldered or brazed directly to the air side. Complete access to the liquid side of the heat exchanger is provided for cleaning.

Titanium heat exchanger for laser cooling

A gas laser apparatus includes a ceramic wave guide having a bore extending therethrough and a pair of slots formed in the exterior thereof with electrodes formed in the slots. An optical assembly is mounted on each end of the Waveguide and includes a mirror which is attached to a metal ring in the optical assembly where they harden a fused glass frit material. A plurality of invar metal rods connects the optical assemblies and has adjustment screws on each end of each rod for tilting a portion of the optical assembly on a metal flexure member to align the mirrors. The tubes and rods in the optical assemblies holding each mirror have temperature compensating materials and sizes to maintain the mirror in alignment, and separation over wide ambient and operating temperatures. A process of making a gas laser includes the steps of selecting an optical mirror blank, making a metal mirror blank support ring having an opening therethrough for mounting the selected mirror blank therein, applying a glass paste material between the mirror blank and the mirror support ring, heating the mirror blank and the mirror blank support ring and glass paste material to a temperature in excess of 400 degrees centigrade to seal the mirror blank to the metal mirror blank support ring with a glass frit seal, and then attaching the support ring to a laser optical assembly on each end of a laser assembly.

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Orlando, FL, United States of America

Anthony P Adsett