The United States of America as Represented by the United States

The Boeing Company

Vaughn G Draggoo

Richard G Morton

Richard H Sawicki

Jerome P Hall

Robert M Sawvel

Horst D Bissinger

A metal vapor laser is disclosed that recycles condensed metal located at the terminal ends of a plasma tube back toward the center of the tube. A pair of arcuate wedges are incorporated on the bottom of the plasma tube near the terminal ends. The wedges slope downward toward the center so that condensed metal may be transported under the force of gravity away from the terminal ends. The wedges are curved to fit the plasma tube to thereby avoid forming any gaps within the tube interior.

Recirculating wedges for metal-vapor plasma tubes

The system of the present invention contemplates a non-intrusive method for measuring the temperature rise of optical elements under high laser power optical loading to determine the absorption coefficient. The method comprises irradiating the optical element with a high average power laser beam, viewing the optical element with an infrared camera to determine the temperature across the optical element and calculating the absorption of the optical element from the temperature.

Optical absorption measurement system

A laser includes a reflector whose cross section in a plane perpendicular to the laser flashlamp axis defines a modified involute based on the marginal angle of the flashlamp.

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Livermore, CA, United States of America

Vaughn G Draggoo