Apparatus and method for generating a high power energy beam based laser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10680400-B2
Application number	US-201715785022-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2017
Priority date	Oct 16, 2017
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A system for generating an energy beam based laser includes an apparatus for receiving an energy beam and for generating an energy beam based laser. The apparatus is configurable or controllable for tuning an output wavelength of the laser generated by the apparatus using the energy beam. The apparatus includes a first component for producing a first magnetic field oriented in a first direction and a second component for producing a second magnetic field oriented in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction. A channel through the apparatus is defined by the first component and the second component through which the energy beam passes to generate the laser at an output of the apparatus. The apparatus is configurable or controllable for modifying at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field for tuning the output wavelength of the laser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for generating an energy beam based laser, comprising:
an apparatus for receiving an energy beam and for generating an energy beam based laser, the apparatus being configurable or controllable for tuning an output wavelength of the laser generated by the apparatus using the energy beam, the apparatus comprising:
a first component for producing a first magnetic field oriented in a first direction, wherein the first component comprises a first toroid;
a second component for producing a second magnetic field oriented in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction, wherein the second component comprises a second toroid, a center opening of the first toroid and the second toroid are in a same plane and the second toroid is disposed adjacent the first toroid at a predetermined distance from the first toroid; and
a channel through the apparatus defined by the first component and the second component through which the energy beam passes to generate the laser at an output of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configurable or controllable for modifying at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field for tuning the output wavelength of the laser, the channel being defined within the predetermined distance between the first toroid and the second toroid.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises:
a first plurality of separate coils wound around the first toroid, the first plurality of coils being placed about a circumference of the first toroid and each coil generating a first magnetic field in response to electric current flowing in the coil;

wherein the second component comprises:
a second plurality of separate coils wound around the second toroid, the second plurality of coils being placed about a circumference of the second toroid and each coil generating a second magnetic field in response to electric current flowing in the coil;

wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a magnetic or diamagnetic material enclosing the first plurality of coils and the second plurality of coils; and
an elongated slot formed in the magnetic or diamagnetic material at a location where coils of the first plurality of coils and the second plurality of coils are closest, the elongated slot extending radially between two adjacent coils of the first plurality of separate coils and two adjacent coils of the second plurality of separate coils, wherein the elongated slot defines the channel through which the energy beam passes to generate the laser.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first toroid, the first plurality of coils around the first toroid, the second toroid and the second plurality of coils around the second toroid comprise opposite rounded ends connected by elongated sides.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein each of the coils comprises a uniform radial width.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein a first group of the coils of the first plurality of coils and a second group of coils of the second plurality of coils each comprise a size that respectively gradually decrease over about half or less than about a circumference of each of the first toroid and the second toroid from respective pairs of points on each toroid that are spaced about half or less than about the circumference apart on each toroid to modify the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field in the elongated slot for tuning the output wavelength of the laser.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the two adjacent coils of the first plurality of separate coils and the two adjacent coils of the second plurality of separate coils that are proximate the elongated slot are rotated a predetermined number of degrees with respect to the elongated slot to modify at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field in the elongated slot for tuning the output wavelength of the laser.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined distance between the first toroid and the second toroid is changed to modify the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field in the elongated slot for tuning the output wavelength of the laser.

8. The system of claim 2 , wherein a segment of magnetic or diamagnetic material is inserted into a selected location in the elongated slot to modify at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field in the elongated slot for tuning the output wavelength of the laser.

9. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a variable electric current supply electrically connected to at least coils proximate the elongated slot, wherein the electric current flowing in the coils is modulated to modify at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field in the elongated slot for tuning the output wavelength of the laser.

10. A system for generating an energy beam based laser, comprising:
an apparatus for receiving an energy beam and for generating an energy beam based laser, the apparatus being configurable or controllable for tuning an output wavelength of the laser generated by the apparatus using the energy beam, the apparatus comprising:
a first toroid;
a first plurality of separate coils wound around the first toroid, the first plurality of coils being placed about a circumference of the first toroid and each coil generating a first magnetic field in response to electric current flowing in the coil;
a second toroid;
a second plurality of separate coils wound around the second toroid, the second plurality of coils being placed about a circumference of the second toroid and each coil generating a second magnetic field in response to electric current flowing in the coil, wherein a circular center opening of the first toroid and the second toroid are in a same plane and the second toroid is disposed adjacent the first toroid at a predetermined distance from the first toroid;
a magnetic or diamagnetic material enclosing the first plurality of coils and the second plurality of coils; and
an elongated slot formed in the magnetic or diamagnetic material at a location where coils of the first plurality of coils and the second plurality of coils are closest, the elongated slot extending radially between two adjacent coils of the first plurality of separate coils and two adjacent coils of the second plurality of separate coils, wherein the elongated slot defines a channel through which the energy beam passes to generate the laser at an output of the apparatus and the apparatus is configurable or controllable for modifying at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field for tuning the output wavelength of the laser.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is configurable or controllable for tuning the output wavelength of the laser by at least one of:
rotating coils proximate the elongated slot a predetermined number of degrees with respect to the elongated slot to modify at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field in the elongated slot for tuning the output wavelength of the laser;
decreasing a radial width of coils proximate the elongated slot to modify at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field in the elongated slot for tuning the output wavelength of the laser;
adjusting the predetermined distance between the first toroid and the second toroid to modify at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field in the elongated slot for tuning the output wavelength of the laser;
inserting a segment of magnetic or diamagnetic material into a selected location in the elongated slot to modify at least one of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field in the

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Clemen Jr Mark Joseph
• Hull John R

Classifications

• H01S3/0959 Primary

  by an electron beam · CPC title

• H01S3/10092

  Coherent seed, e.g. injection locking · CPC title

• H01S3/102

  by controlling the active medium, e.g. by controlling the processes or apparatus for excitation (H01S3/13 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01S3/07

  consisting of a plurality of parts, e.g. segments (H01S3/067 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01S3/0326 Primary

  by an electromagnetic field · CPC title