Applied Energetics, Inc.

Ionatron

Other

Stephen William McCahon

Paul Bryan Lundquist

Richard Adler

Joseph C Hayden

Eric Lau

Alan Kost

Samvel Sarkisyan

Gregory J Quarles

Paul B Lundquis

Low wavelength infrared Super Continuum (SC) signals from a master oscillator seeds an amplifier that supports the Raman effect. Counter-propagating, high-power, continuous wave, and quasi-continuous wave quantum cascade lasers pumps (amplify) the optical seeds forming multiple coherent wavelength optical pump sources.

Multiple coherent wavelength optical sources

A resonating optical amplifier includes a laser pump cavity defined by a first mirror and a second mirror with a laser pump gain medium configured within a first portion of the laser pump cavity and a Raman amplifier within a second portion of the laser pump cavity. A circulating pump-laser light is introduced to the laser pump gain medium forming a pump signal that is configured to bi-directionally propagate along a beam path within the laser pump cavity. The Raman amplifier is positioned in line with the beam path of the pump signal and operable to impart gain on a seed pulse. The seed pulse and the pump signal are co-aligned and linearly polarized.

Raman amplifier with shared resonator

A high brightness, wavelength-adjustable, deep-UV-C light source identifies, neutralizes, and validates the absence of one or more pathogens. An optical source using a Raman-based nonlinear optical amplification process converts low brightness continuous wave (CW) and Quasi-CW pump light into high brightness and high peak power optical UV-C radiation at a specific wavelength, pulse duration, repetition rate, and optical bandwidth for targeted pathogen identification, neutralization, and absence validation. A tunable Raman-based output operates at a wavelength between 400 nm and 460 nm, which is employed for Raman spectroscopic pathogen detection, and which is frequency doubled to the Deep-UV-C (DUV-C) spectral region of between 200 nm to 230 nm for fluorescence detection of potential pathogens.

Pathogen detection and neutralization using deep UV-C generation via seeded Raman amplification and second harmonic generation

At a designated range an ultra-short pulse laser beam collapses focusing its power and thereby creating a plasma. A range specific thermal plasma is formed from a pulsed laser configured to produce a pulsed wavefront at a peak power. The peak power of the wavefront exceeds a self-focusing critical power level. An optical wavefront controlling element having one or more optical lens manipulates the pulsed wavefront based on a ratio of the peak power to the self-focusing critical power level, and an atmospheric condition, initiating whole beam collapse at the designated range.

Pulsed laser thermal excitation

A laser amplifier system is presented including a pump regenerative amplifier. The amplifier generally has a cavity defined by a pair of end cavity mirrors between which an amplified pump pulse oscillates. The amplifier also includes an interaction cell with a tunable gain medium amplifies laser pulses (e.g., Raman gain). The interaction cell may be positioned within the pump amplifier cavity and an input pulse may be injected into the cavity of the amplifier to transit through the tunable gain medium of the interaction cell. A pump pulse transfers energy via interaction with the input pulse (e.g., Raman interaction) as the pulses counter-propagate through the gain medium of the interaction cell. Amplification of output laser pulses, however, is generally achieved according to the wavelength of the pump laser pulses thereby providing a wavelength dependent, or 'tunable', means for amplifying laser pulses.

Regenerative laser amplifier

Systems and methods are presented herein that provide for ignition of explosive devices through electric and/or electromagnetic discharge. In one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge is directionally propagated through air to conduct electric current to the explosive device. The electric current may ignite the explosive device via heat, via triggering of ignition circuitry, via induced electric current conduction to the explosive material therein and/or via direct electric conduction to the explosive material therein. Alternatively, or in addition to, electromagnetic energy may be directionally propagated to the device through a waveguide. Such electromagnetic energy may be in the microwave region and may heat and/or induce electric current in the explosive device. In either instance, the directionally propagated energy may be time varying. In one embodiment, a system is configured with a vehicle to distally position the directionally propagated energy to the explosive device such that damage caused by the device is inhibited.

Systems and method for igniting explosives

Systems and methods presented herein are generally directed to enhancing electrical discharge. A hollow conical electrode may be provided to discharge electrical energy in a directed manner. The conical electrode has two openings: a larger entrance opening; and a smaller exit opening. These openings are configured to allow radiated energy to pass therethrough and form a preferential path of electrical conduction. The larger entrance opening has a surface with a radius of curvature that is larger than that of the second smaller exit opening. The smaller exit opening directs electrical energy to the path because of stronger electric fields. In one embodiment, a protruding electrode element is configured with the smaller exit opening to further enhance electrical discharge by focusing electric fields in the vicinity of the protruding electrode.

Systems and methods for enhancing electrical discharge

Systems and methods for igniting explosives

An electrode is provided that is adapted to both pierce a barrier and providing an over-air discharge of electrical energy. In this regard, an over air discharge of electrical energy may be provided to an opposing side of a barrier. In one arrangement, the electrode includes a tapered point, which may be a hardened material, to facilitate piercing a barrier. In a further arrangement, the electrode incorporates an insulative shaft. In this arrangement, the insulative shaft electrically isolates a conductor of the electrode from a conductive barrier. Accordingly, the electrode may be utilized to pierce metallic enclosures and provide an electrical discharge for the purpose of altering the operation of electronic device within such enclosures.

Barrier piercing electrode

Systems and methods herein provide for the controlled formation of plasma filaments. For example, a system that radiates energy through a gas includes a laser that generates a laser pulse, and an optical element with which the laser propagates the laser pulse to control placement of an optical filament within a beam cross-section of the laser pulse. The optical filament may thereby generate a plasma filament, which may propagate energy. In this regard, an energy source may provide energy such that the plasma filament directs propagation of the energy for delivery to an application. The energy may be electrical energy, electromagnetic energy, optical energy, or a combination thereof. Generally, the optical element may impart at least one phase singularity within the laser pulse. Alternatively or additionally, the optical element may include at least one optical inhomogeneity.

Controlled optical filament generation and energy propagation

Optical filaments are formed controllably in a gaseous medium such as air. A phase plate introducing a phase discontinuity or other localized optical inhomogeneity is introduced into the path of the pulsed high-power laser beam that forms the optical filaments in the medium. The locations and characteristics of the phase discontinuities or singularities are selected to control the number and locations of the optical filaments.

Generation of optical filaments by use of localized optical inhomogeneities

Optical filaments are formed controllably in a gaseous medium such as air. A phase plate introducing a phase singularity is introduced into the path of the laser beam that forms the optical filaments in the medium. The phase plate is preferably a vortex phase plate having one or more singularities. The locations and characteristics of the phase singularities are selected to control the number and locations of the optical filaments.

Generation of optical filaments by use of phase plate

A non-contact optically based apparatus for measuring the motion of a diffusely reflecting surface. The motion measurements and signals derived therefrom are used to provide input control signals to a computer or other electronic control systems requiring a human tactile or other control. The apparatus includes a unique optical sensor which senses both the magnitude and direction of the motion of a surface, relative to the apparatus, by measuring the motion of the pattern generated by illuminating the diffusely reflecting surface with a light source.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Stephen William McCahon