Other

US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Theodore A Jacobs

George Emanuel

Dale L Hook

John Waypa, Jr

This invention discloses a system for generating a continuous wave (CW) chemically pumped laser in the visible and ultraviolet wavelength regions of the spectrum. This invention employs controlled condensation to produce a non-equilibrium species of metal atoms such as the sodium trimer (Na.sub.3). Continuous, coherent radiation output is achieved by producing from a convergent divergent nozzle a high speed jet of metal vapor carrier by a non-reacting gas such as nitrogen (N.sub.2). By control of the expansion rate and temperature of the metal vapor and carrier gas mixture, a metal trimer species is produced. Also from a convergent divergent nozzle a second high speed jet is produced that carries halogen atoms (such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine) in an inert gas such as helium. The high speed jets of reactants flow in parallel. The two high speed jets of gases, alternating in halogen and metal vapor flow, output into a laser cavity. Upon mixing these gases, a chemical reaction results. As an example, bromine atoms react with Na.sub.3. This reaction produces, among other products, Na.sub.2 *, i.e., electronically excited sodium dimer in an inverted state. These excited, inverted state molecules are produced in an optical cavity whose axis is transverse to the flow. For Na.sub.2 *, coherent radiation is produced at approximately 5270 .ANG. in the visible spectrum. A laser is made to occur in the optical cavity; the product gases then quickly flow or are pumped out of the optical cavity.

Continuous wave chemically pumped visible ultraviolet laser based on

A hypersonic wedge nozzle for chemical lasers that has a radially diverging low primary nozzle with a multiplicity of hypersonic wedge type secondary injection wedges at the exit end of the primary nozzle to allow gas flow to become supersonic in the primary nozzle before entering the regions between the secondary injection wedges or the surfaces thereof. Utilization of the large diverging primary nozzle in producing supersonic flow minimizes viscous effects in producing the supersonic flow in a chemical HF or DF laser.

Growing community of inventors

Annandale, VA, United States of America

Theodore A Jacobs