CA1077606A - System for combining laser beams of diverse frequencies - Google Patents
System for combining laser beams of diverse frequenciesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1077606A CA1077606A CA261,561A CA261561A CA1077606A CA 1077606 A CA1077606 A CA 1077606A CA 261561 A CA261561 A CA 261561A CA 1077606 A CA1077606 A CA 1077606A
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- Prior art keywords
- beams
- radiation
- laser radiation
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- output
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
- G02B27/14—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only
- G02B27/144—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D59/00—Separation of different isotopes of the same chemical element
- B01D59/34—Separation by photochemical methods
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
- G02B27/1006—Beam splitting or combining systems for splitting or combining different wavelengths
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
- G02B27/14—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only
- G02B27/145—Beam splitting or combining systems operating by reflection only having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/005—Optical devices external to the laser cavity, specially adapted for lasers, e.g. for homogenisation of the beam or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Biophysics (AREA)
- Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- Lasers (AREA)
- Laser Beam Processing (AREA)
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
A system of passive or static optics for combining distinct beams of laser radiation into a number of output beams, each having colinear, superimposed beam components of the original radiation. This system further provides power sharing between the combined beams of the power in the original input beams of laser radiation.
A system of passive or static optics for combining distinct beams of laser radiation into a number of output beams, each having colinear, superimposed beam components of the original radiation. This system further provides power sharing between the combined beams of the power in the original input beams of laser radiation.
Description
~77606 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to laser optics and in particular to an optical system for combining laser beams.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In isotope separation by isotopically selective photo-excitation of ~
one isotope in an environment of plural isotopes, as for example discussed in ~-United States Patent 3,772,519 which issued to Levy and Janes in November 1972, lt is common to find a plurality of laser beams separately generated.
It is desired to combine these into a composite beam having components from each of the separate laser beams. It is known that laser beams, or radiation in general, of differing frequencies in separate beams may be combined onto a single path having colinear superimposed beams composed of components of each of the original beams by the use of dichroic elements. Additionally, it is known as, for example, discussed in United States Patent 3,924,937 which is-sued to George Sargent Janes on February 17, 1976, that a plurality of laser beams of pulsed radiation having sequentially triggered pulses in each beam may be combined using a system of rotating optics.
For high power applications, the losses inherent in dichroic ele-ments, particularly when combining laser beams of closely spaced frequency, 2Q will reduce the efficiency, or power available in the combined beams. Simi-larly, the use of rotating optics to provide beam combining in the case of time sequenced, pulsed beams while feasible, presents an element of mechanical complexity which it might be preferable to avoid.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
~n t~e present invention, an optical system o~ passive and station-ary~elements is employed to combine the radiation from a plurality of spa-ciall~ distinct beams so that a plurality of composite beams result. Each composite beam contains colinear and superimposed beam components from each of the original, distinct laser beams. The system can also provide power 3Q splitting of the energy in the distinct beams into the equal components in each of the composite beams so that each component in a single composite beam -~ -can represent the same percentage of the energy in the original input beam.
.-, 1~)77606 .
Apparatus for combining the distinct input beams of laser radiation according to the present invention comprises an array of beam splitter ele-ments. Each beam splitter element receives an input laser beam which may be an original, uncombined beam or a beam already possessing components from several beams, and receives this radiation on opposite surfaces at the same location of the beam splitter. Each beam of input radiation will be partially transmitted and partially reflected such that the output beams will include components of each input beam, each component typically representing half of the energy in each input beam. The process may be repeated with other beam -1~ splitter elements to combine a greater number of input beams into a corres-ponding number of output beams each having components from all of the input beams.
According to one broad aspect of the present invention, there is :
provided a system for combining laser beams of diverse frequencies into a plurality of beams, each comprising laser radiation having components of each of said diverse frequencies, said system comprising: a plurality, greater than two, of sources of laser radiation including at least first and second source sets; said plurality of sources of laser radiation providing respective , input beams of laser radiation of different frequencies; a first plurality of 2a beam splitting elements positioned to receive on one surface of each radiation input beams from said first source set and to receive on the second surface of each the radiation input beams from said second source set; said first plurality of beam splitting elements providing a plurality of sets of composite beams of ratiation comprising: _a first set of composite beams including a fraction of the radiation from said first source set superimposed on a frac-tion of the radiation from said second source set; and a second set of com-po~ite ~eams oomprising a fraction of the radiation in said first source set .i~ ~ ..
superimposed on a fraction of the radiation in said second source set; a ~ further plurality of beam splitting elements responsive to the plurality of -.
3~ ~ets of composite beams for providing a set of output beams, each beam thereof ~
fiaving a raction of the radiation in each o~ the input beams from said first ~-, and ~econd set~ of sources.
, ~
1~77606 According to another broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for combining a multiplicity of beams of laser radiation of diverse frequencies to provide a multiplicity of output beams of laser radiation, each beam including a componen~ beam from each of said plurality of beams of diverse frequencies, said system comprising a multiplicity of beams of laser radiation of diverse frequencies; and a plurality of beam splitter elements which include: a first plurality of beam splitters each received on different surfaces thereof respective laser radiation from said :
multiplicity of beams and providing a set of output beams, the output beams from each beam splitter including in combination all of the frequencies of laser radiation applied to the surfaces thereof; and a further plurality of further beam splitters each positioned to receive different laser radiation of combined frequencies from a plurality of beam splitters other than said further plurality of beam splitter elements on respective surfaces thereof and to provide a further set of output beams of laser radiation each of the further set of output beams of laser radiation including laser radiation of each frequency in said multiplicity of beams.
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention, there i`s provided a static system for combining laser beams from a plurality of 20 sources of laser radiation comprising: a plurality, greater than two, of sources of laser radiation each providing a spacially distinct input beam of laser radiation; a first plurality of beam splitting elements each receiving on first and second surfaces thereof laser radiation in input beams from ; corresponding ones of the plurality of laser radiation sources to provide plural respective composite beams therefrom with the composite beams being . ~::
physically distinct and each containing radiation from different combinations each less than all of said plurality of sources of laser radiation whereby said composite beams contain substantially all of the energy in said input beams; a further plurality of beam splitting elements responsive to different ~
3Q com~inations of the composite beams from said first plurality of elements for :
di~ecting separate fractions of the radiation in each input beam along separate patbs defining output beams thereby providing in each output beam a portion of ` -~ '~
~077606 the radiation in each of said plurality of input beams.
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying dra~ing, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagram of a prior art technique for combining laser beams;
Figure 2 is a pictorial view of the technique of the present inven-tion for combining two laser beams; and Figure 3 is a diagram of an array according to the present invention for combining a greater number of laser beams.
The present invention contemplates a system of one or more passive, stationary beam splitting elements for combining the radiation on a plurality of separate, spacially distinct laser beams into combined beams each having components of all of the input laser beams. The use of beam splitters in accordance with the teaching of the present invention permits the realization of a high efficiency beam combining system, particularly for combining beams o~ dlfferent, but onl~ slightly different frequencies. The present invention avoits the losses inherent in the use of dichroic elements for the combination of beams as, for example, shown in another technique in Figure 1, or the addi-tional elements required with rotating optics.
According to a technique which might be employed to combine beams of laser radiation illustrated in Figure 1, a set of dichroic elements 12, 14 and 16 ma~ be employed to combine four beams 18, 20, 22 and 24 of laser radi-ation, each having the same power level P ~or different power levels as de-sired) at distinct frequencies, Fl, F2, F3 and F4. Mirrors 26, 28 and 30 are -shown in use to direct radiation for proper application to each of the di-chroic elements 12, 14 and 16. There results from the system of combining optics, a composite beam 32 combining the components of all of the input beams 18, 20, 22 and 24.
For isotope separation, particularly uranium enrichment, according 3a to the technique shown in the above referenced Patent 3,772,519, it may then be desired to divide the power in the beam 32 into separate beams having identical spectral content but sharing the power in the beam 32 in order to ~ 4 ~
- . . , excite various portions of the uranium vapor simultaneously. A set of beam splitters 34, 36 and 38 are employed with reflecting mirrors 40 and 42 to split the beam onto four separate beams 44, 46, 48 and 50, each having com-ponents at the frequencies Fl, F2, F3 and F4 and one quarter of the power at each frequency as in the input beams 18J 20, 22 and 24.
In addition to the use of a large number of optical elements for the beam combining and splitting system of Figure 1J all of which require precise and stable optical alignmentJ the use of dichroic elements 12J 14 and 16 introduces a significant loss inherent in the dielectric layers parti-cularly where the frequencies F1J F2J F3 and F4 are closely spaced as may be the case where the laser beams are employed in isotope separation.
The same results of combined and power split radiation may be achieved more simply and with less potential energy loss in the incident laser beams using a beam splitter concept as illustrated basically in Figure 2. As shown there, a beam splitter 52 which is typically 50% reflecting and 50%
transmitting and typically consisting of a multilayer dielectric element ~or thin metal film element) is provided to receive radiation in input laser beams 54 and 56 on opposite surfaces. The fabrication of such a beam splitter is ~ell known in the art. The radiations in the beams 54 and 56 are of different frequencies, Fl and F2, which may be selected for producing excitation of an isotope between different energy states in a process of is~topically selective ionization as described in the above-referenced Patent 3J772J519. The powerJ
P, in each beam is typically the sameJ but need not be so. The radiation in ~ -the beam 54 having a powerJ P, is divided between an output beam 58 contain-ing one half of the power, P, and an output beam 60 containing the other half of the power, P, in the beam 54. The beam 58 will also contain a component of transmitted energy from the input beam 56 and the output beam 60 will contain a component of reflected radiation from the input beam 56, each at a power level of one half P.
3Q The two output beams 58 and 60 will each rontain equal components cf' the rad~ation in the input beams 54 and 56, typically half the power in each input beam. Each component in the output beams 58 and 60 will be com-~a7'7606 pletely ~uperimposed upon and colinear with the other beam and only slightly displaced therefrom due to the dispersive properties of the beam splitter 52.
A beam splitter array for combining and power splitting a multipli-city of input beams as might be used in isotope separation is more completely illustrated in Figure 3. As shown there, the array consists of four beam splitter elements 62, 64, 66 and 68 positioned to combine the output radiation of four lasers 70, 72, 74 and 76, each of different frequencies, Fl, F2, F3 and F4. While shown for use with four lasers, the array of Figure 3 may be employed with a lesser number, such as three, as desired.
The radiation from the lasers 70 and 72 is applied to opposite sur-faces of the beam splitter 62 as input beams 78 and 80. The resulting output beams 82 and 84 each have component beams at the frequencies Fl and F2 at half the power level, P, of the original input beams 78 and 80. Similarly, the radiation from the lasers 74 and 76 are applied as input beams 86 and 88 ~1 to opposite surfaces of the beam splitter 66 to provide resultant output beams 90 and 92. The beams 82 and 92 are directed toward beam splitter 68 on op- -posite ~urfaces for combining into beams 94 and 96. Beams 84 and 90 are di-rected toward beam splitter 64 on opposite surfaces for combining into output beams 98 and 100.
Each of the four output beams 94, 96, 98, 100 contains a quarter of th~ power of each input beam 78, 80, 86, 88 and thus is a composite beam con-taining each of the colors or frequencies generated by the lassers 70, 72, 74, 76. No elements except four beam splitters are required for this exemplary system and these may be made to operate with very low losses~
~ The four output beams 94, 96, 98 and 100 are then advantageously l applied through parallel enrichment channels 102, 104, 106, 108 respectively ~hich may be spaced regions of a uranium isotope separation chamber or separate chambers as shown in the above mentioned United States patents.
It is intended that extensions and modifications of this preferred 3Q embodiment be within the scope of the invention, the foregoing description be-i~ ing only exemplary. Accordingly, the area of invention is to be limited only as defined in the following claims and their equivalents.
6 .
,.
The present invention relates to laser optics and in particular to an optical system for combining laser beams.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In isotope separation by isotopically selective photo-excitation of ~
one isotope in an environment of plural isotopes, as for example discussed in ~-United States Patent 3,772,519 which issued to Levy and Janes in November 1972, lt is common to find a plurality of laser beams separately generated.
It is desired to combine these into a composite beam having components from each of the separate laser beams. It is known that laser beams, or radiation in general, of differing frequencies in separate beams may be combined onto a single path having colinear superimposed beams composed of components of each of the original beams by the use of dichroic elements. Additionally, it is known as, for example, discussed in United States Patent 3,924,937 which is-sued to George Sargent Janes on February 17, 1976, that a plurality of laser beams of pulsed radiation having sequentially triggered pulses in each beam may be combined using a system of rotating optics.
For high power applications, the losses inherent in dichroic ele-ments, particularly when combining laser beams of closely spaced frequency, 2Q will reduce the efficiency, or power available in the combined beams. Simi-larly, the use of rotating optics to provide beam combining in the case of time sequenced, pulsed beams while feasible, presents an element of mechanical complexity which it might be preferable to avoid.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
~n t~e present invention, an optical system o~ passive and station-ary~elements is employed to combine the radiation from a plurality of spa-ciall~ distinct beams so that a plurality of composite beams result. Each composite beam contains colinear and superimposed beam components from each of the original, distinct laser beams. The system can also provide power 3Q splitting of the energy in the distinct beams into the equal components in each of the composite beams so that each component in a single composite beam -~ -can represent the same percentage of the energy in the original input beam.
.-, 1~)77606 .
Apparatus for combining the distinct input beams of laser radiation according to the present invention comprises an array of beam splitter ele-ments. Each beam splitter element receives an input laser beam which may be an original, uncombined beam or a beam already possessing components from several beams, and receives this radiation on opposite surfaces at the same location of the beam splitter. Each beam of input radiation will be partially transmitted and partially reflected such that the output beams will include components of each input beam, each component typically representing half of the energy in each input beam. The process may be repeated with other beam -1~ splitter elements to combine a greater number of input beams into a corres-ponding number of output beams each having components from all of the input beams.
According to one broad aspect of the present invention, there is :
provided a system for combining laser beams of diverse frequencies into a plurality of beams, each comprising laser radiation having components of each of said diverse frequencies, said system comprising: a plurality, greater than two, of sources of laser radiation including at least first and second source sets; said plurality of sources of laser radiation providing respective , input beams of laser radiation of different frequencies; a first plurality of 2a beam splitting elements positioned to receive on one surface of each radiation input beams from said first source set and to receive on the second surface of each the radiation input beams from said second source set; said first plurality of beam splitting elements providing a plurality of sets of composite beams of ratiation comprising: _a first set of composite beams including a fraction of the radiation from said first source set superimposed on a frac-tion of the radiation from said second source set; and a second set of com-po~ite ~eams oomprising a fraction of the radiation in said first source set .i~ ~ ..
superimposed on a fraction of the radiation in said second source set; a ~ further plurality of beam splitting elements responsive to the plurality of -.
3~ ~ets of composite beams for providing a set of output beams, each beam thereof ~
fiaving a raction of the radiation in each o~ the input beams from said first ~-, and ~econd set~ of sources.
, ~
1~77606 According to another broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for combining a multiplicity of beams of laser radiation of diverse frequencies to provide a multiplicity of output beams of laser radiation, each beam including a componen~ beam from each of said plurality of beams of diverse frequencies, said system comprising a multiplicity of beams of laser radiation of diverse frequencies; and a plurality of beam splitter elements which include: a first plurality of beam splitters each received on different surfaces thereof respective laser radiation from said :
multiplicity of beams and providing a set of output beams, the output beams from each beam splitter including in combination all of the frequencies of laser radiation applied to the surfaces thereof; and a further plurality of further beam splitters each positioned to receive different laser radiation of combined frequencies from a plurality of beam splitters other than said further plurality of beam splitter elements on respective surfaces thereof and to provide a further set of output beams of laser radiation each of the further set of output beams of laser radiation including laser radiation of each frequency in said multiplicity of beams.
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention, there i`s provided a static system for combining laser beams from a plurality of 20 sources of laser radiation comprising: a plurality, greater than two, of sources of laser radiation each providing a spacially distinct input beam of laser radiation; a first plurality of beam splitting elements each receiving on first and second surfaces thereof laser radiation in input beams from ; corresponding ones of the plurality of laser radiation sources to provide plural respective composite beams therefrom with the composite beams being . ~::
physically distinct and each containing radiation from different combinations each less than all of said plurality of sources of laser radiation whereby said composite beams contain substantially all of the energy in said input beams; a further plurality of beam splitting elements responsive to different ~
3Q com~inations of the composite beams from said first plurality of elements for :
di~ecting separate fractions of the radiation in each input beam along separate patbs defining output beams thereby providing in each output beam a portion of ` -~ '~
~077606 the radiation in each of said plurality of input beams.
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying dra~ing, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagram of a prior art technique for combining laser beams;
Figure 2 is a pictorial view of the technique of the present inven-tion for combining two laser beams; and Figure 3 is a diagram of an array according to the present invention for combining a greater number of laser beams.
The present invention contemplates a system of one or more passive, stationary beam splitting elements for combining the radiation on a plurality of separate, spacially distinct laser beams into combined beams each having components of all of the input laser beams. The use of beam splitters in accordance with the teaching of the present invention permits the realization of a high efficiency beam combining system, particularly for combining beams o~ dlfferent, but onl~ slightly different frequencies. The present invention avoits the losses inherent in the use of dichroic elements for the combination of beams as, for example, shown in another technique in Figure 1, or the addi-tional elements required with rotating optics.
According to a technique which might be employed to combine beams of laser radiation illustrated in Figure 1, a set of dichroic elements 12, 14 and 16 ma~ be employed to combine four beams 18, 20, 22 and 24 of laser radi-ation, each having the same power level P ~or different power levels as de-sired) at distinct frequencies, Fl, F2, F3 and F4. Mirrors 26, 28 and 30 are -shown in use to direct radiation for proper application to each of the di-chroic elements 12, 14 and 16. There results from the system of combining optics, a composite beam 32 combining the components of all of the input beams 18, 20, 22 and 24.
For isotope separation, particularly uranium enrichment, according 3a to the technique shown in the above referenced Patent 3,772,519, it may then be desired to divide the power in the beam 32 into separate beams having identical spectral content but sharing the power in the beam 32 in order to ~ 4 ~
- . . , excite various portions of the uranium vapor simultaneously. A set of beam splitters 34, 36 and 38 are employed with reflecting mirrors 40 and 42 to split the beam onto four separate beams 44, 46, 48 and 50, each having com-ponents at the frequencies Fl, F2, F3 and F4 and one quarter of the power at each frequency as in the input beams 18J 20, 22 and 24.
In addition to the use of a large number of optical elements for the beam combining and splitting system of Figure 1J all of which require precise and stable optical alignmentJ the use of dichroic elements 12J 14 and 16 introduces a significant loss inherent in the dielectric layers parti-cularly where the frequencies F1J F2J F3 and F4 are closely spaced as may be the case where the laser beams are employed in isotope separation.
The same results of combined and power split radiation may be achieved more simply and with less potential energy loss in the incident laser beams using a beam splitter concept as illustrated basically in Figure 2. As shown there, a beam splitter 52 which is typically 50% reflecting and 50%
transmitting and typically consisting of a multilayer dielectric element ~or thin metal film element) is provided to receive radiation in input laser beams 54 and 56 on opposite surfaces. The fabrication of such a beam splitter is ~ell known in the art. The radiations in the beams 54 and 56 are of different frequencies, Fl and F2, which may be selected for producing excitation of an isotope between different energy states in a process of is~topically selective ionization as described in the above-referenced Patent 3J772J519. The powerJ
P, in each beam is typically the sameJ but need not be so. The radiation in ~ -the beam 54 having a powerJ P, is divided between an output beam 58 contain-ing one half of the power, P, and an output beam 60 containing the other half of the power, P, in the beam 54. The beam 58 will also contain a component of transmitted energy from the input beam 56 and the output beam 60 will contain a component of reflected radiation from the input beam 56, each at a power level of one half P.
3Q The two output beams 58 and 60 will each rontain equal components cf' the rad~ation in the input beams 54 and 56, typically half the power in each input beam. Each component in the output beams 58 and 60 will be com-~a7'7606 pletely ~uperimposed upon and colinear with the other beam and only slightly displaced therefrom due to the dispersive properties of the beam splitter 52.
A beam splitter array for combining and power splitting a multipli-city of input beams as might be used in isotope separation is more completely illustrated in Figure 3. As shown there, the array consists of four beam splitter elements 62, 64, 66 and 68 positioned to combine the output radiation of four lasers 70, 72, 74 and 76, each of different frequencies, Fl, F2, F3 and F4. While shown for use with four lasers, the array of Figure 3 may be employed with a lesser number, such as three, as desired.
The radiation from the lasers 70 and 72 is applied to opposite sur-faces of the beam splitter 62 as input beams 78 and 80. The resulting output beams 82 and 84 each have component beams at the frequencies Fl and F2 at half the power level, P, of the original input beams 78 and 80. Similarly, the radiation from the lasers 74 and 76 are applied as input beams 86 and 88 ~1 to opposite surfaces of the beam splitter 66 to provide resultant output beams 90 and 92. The beams 82 and 92 are directed toward beam splitter 68 on op- -posite ~urfaces for combining into beams 94 and 96. Beams 84 and 90 are di-rected toward beam splitter 64 on opposite surfaces for combining into output beams 98 and 100.
Each of the four output beams 94, 96, 98, 100 contains a quarter of th~ power of each input beam 78, 80, 86, 88 and thus is a composite beam con-taining each of the colors or frequencies generated by the lassers 70, 72, 74, 76. No elements except four beam splitters are required for this exemplary system and these may be made to operate with very low losses~
~ The four output beams 94, 96, 98 and 100 are then advantageously l applied through parallel enrichment channels 102, 104, 106, 108 respectively ~hich may be spaced regions of a uranium isotope separation chamber or separate chambers as shown in the above mentioned United States patents.
It is intended that extensions and modifications of this preferred 3Q embodiment be within the scope of the invention, the foregoing description be-i~ ing only exemplary. Accordingly, the area of invention is to be limited only as defined in the following claims and their equivalents.
6 .
,.
Claims (15)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A system for combining laser beams of diverse frequencies into a plurality of beams, each comprising laser radiation having components of each of said diverse frequencies, said system comprising: a plurality, greater than two, of sources of laser radiation including at least first and second source sets; said plurality of sources of laser radiation providing respective input beams of laser radiation of different frequencies; a first plurality of beam splitting elements positioned to receive on one surface of each radiation input beams from said first source set and to receive on the second surface of each the radiation input beams from said second source set; said first plurality of beam splitting elements providing a plurality of sets of compo-site beams of radiation comprising: a first set of composite beams including a fraction of the radiation from said first source set superimposed on a fraction of the radiation from said second source set; and a second set of composite beams comprising a fraction of the radiation in said first source set superimposed on a fraction of the radiation in said second source set;
a further plurality of beam splitting elements responsive to the plurality of sets of composite beams for providing a set of output beams, each beam thereof having a fraction of the radiation in each of the input beams from said first and second sets of sources.
a further plurality of beam splitting elements responsive to the plurality of sets of composite beams for providing a set of output beams, each beam thereof having a fraction of the radiation in each of the input beams from said first and second sets of sources.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the fractions of radiation from each source appearing in said output beams are approximately equal.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the fraction of radiation appearing in said first and second output beams are different from one half.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the fractions of beams comprising each of said first and second output beams are colinear.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said beam splitting element includes a beam splitter.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein said beam splitter includes a multi-dielectric layer element.
7. The system of claim 5 wherein said beam splitter includes a thin metal layer element.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the power in each of said input beams is approximately equal.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the power in each of said input beams is different.
10. The system of claim 1 including a plurality of parallel channels of uranium vapor receiving each of said output beams.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said plurality of parallel channels include an isotope separation chamber.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein: said plurality of sources number at least four to provide at least four input beams of laser radiation; at least two beam splitting elements are provided in each plurality, the first plurality thereof responding to said at least four input beams to provide at least four composite beams each having the radiation from a different combination of two input beams therein and the further plurality of said beam splitting elements responding to the composite beams of said first plurality of beam splitting elements to provide at least four output beams, each having the radiation from all of said at least four input beams therein.
13. A system for combining a multiplicity of beams of laser radiation of diverse frequencies to provide a multiplicity of output beams of laser radiation, each beam including a component beam from each of said plurality of beams of diverse frequencies, said system comprising a multiplicity of beams of laser radiation of diverse frequencies; and a plurality of beam splitter elements which include: a first plurality of beam splitters each receiving on different surfaces thereof respective laser radiation from said multiplicity of beams and providing a set of output beams, the output beams from each beam splitter including in combination all of the frequencies of laser radiation applied to the surfaces thereof; and a further plurality of further beam splitters each positioned to receive different laser radiation of combined frequencies from a plurality of beam splitters other than said further plurality of beam splitter elements on respective surfaces thereof and to provide a further set of output beams of laser radiation each of the further set of output beams of laser radiation including laser radiation of each frequency in said multiplicity of beams.
14. A static system for combining laser beams from a plurality of sources of laser radiation comprising: a plurality, greater than two, of sourses of laser radiation each providing a spacially distinct input beam of laser radiation; a first plurality of beam splitting elements each receiv-ing on first and second surfaces thereof laser radiation in input beams from corresponding ones of the plurality of laser radiation sources to provide plural respective composite beams therefrom with the composite beams being physically distinct and each containing radiation from different combinations each less than all of said plurality of sources of laser radiation whereby said composite beams contain substantially all of the energy in said input beams; a further plurality of beam splitting elements responsive to different combinations of the composite beams from said first plurality of elements for directing separate fractions of the radiation in each input beam along separate paths defining output beams thereby providing in each output beam a portion of the radiation in each of said plurality of input beams.
15. The system of claim 14 further including means responsive to the output beams for separating uranium isotopes.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US66064976A | 1976-02-23 | 1976-02-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1077606A true CA1077606A (en) | 1980-05-13 |
Family
ID=24650397
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA261,561A Expired CA1077606A (en) | 1976-02-23 | 1976-09-20 | System for combining laser beams of diverse frequencies |
Country Status (13)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS52101996A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU510203B2 (en) |
| BE (1) | BE847105A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1077606A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH614074A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2648271A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES452165A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2341873A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1570701A (en) |
| IL (1) | IL50516A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1074611B (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7611307A (en) |
| SE (1) | SE416601B (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4073572A (en) * | 1976-02-23 | 1978-02-14 | Jersey Nuclear-Avco Isotopes, Inc. | System for increasing laser pulse rate with beam splitters |
| FR2498752B1 (en) * | 1981-01-23 | 1985-07-05 | Thomson Csf | OPTICAL RECORDING DEVICE READING AN INFORMATION MEDIUM COMPRISING TWO LASER SOURCES OF DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS |
| JPS5886787A (en) * | 1981-11-19 | 1983-05-24 | Nippon Sekigaisen Kogyo Kk | Laser emitting device |
| JPS5985657A (en) * | 1982-11-06 | 1984-05-17 | 日本赤外線工業株式会社 | Laser radiation apparatus |
| IT1165499B (en) * | 1983-12-20 | 1987-04-22 | Alfa Romeo Auto Spa | SISTEAM FOR THE FLEXIBLE COMPOSITION OF LASER BEAMS |
| FR2591510B1 (en) * | 1985-03-29 | 1988-03-04 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SELECTIVE REACTION IN PHOTOCHEMICAL PROCESSES FROM LASER BEAMS, INCLUDING MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING SUCH BEAMS. |
| FR2603427B1 (en) * | 1986-08-29 | 1989-03-24 | B M Ind Sa | OPTICAL CONFIGURATION FOR LASER PULSE MULTIPLEXING |
| US5165080A (en) * | 1987-09-11 | 1992-11-17 | British Telecommunications Public Limited Company | Optical distributor |
| GB8721472D0 (en) * | 1987-09-11 | 1987-10-21 | British Telecomm | Optical distributor |
| FR2628004B1 (en) * | 1988-03-02 | 1991-09-20 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | LASER BEAM DISTRIBUTION DEVICE FOR USE IN A LASER ISOTOPIC SEPARATION PROCESS |
| JP6805688B2 (en) * | 2016-09-29 | 2020-12-23 | 住友電気工業株式会社 | Light source module |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3671747A (en) * | 1970-03-30 | 1972-06-20 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Picosecond optical apparatus utilizing optically induced birefringence in solids |
| US4038549A (en) * | 1973-06-08 | 1977-07-26 | Jersey Nuclear-Avco Isotopes, Inc. | Isotopically selective excitation from plural excited states |
| US4070580A (en) * | 1976-02-17 | 1978-01-24 | Stanford Research Institute | Method and apparatus for field ionization for isotope separation |
| US4073572A (en) * | 1976-02-23 | 1978-02-14 | Jersey Nuclear-Avco Isotopes, Inc. | System for increasing laser pulse rate with beam splitters |
-
1976
- 1976-09-20 CA CA261,561A patent/CA1077606A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-09-20 IL IL50516A patent/IL50516A/en unknown
- 1976-09-21 SE SE7610454A patent/SE416601B/en unknown
- 1976-09-27 AU AU18115/76A patent/AU510203B2/en not_active Expired
- 1976-10-05 FR FR7629914A patent/FR2341873A1/en active Pending
- 1976-10-06 ES ES452165A patent/ES452165A1/en not_active Expired
- 1976-10-08 BE BE171368A patent/BE847105A/en unknown
- 1976-10-13 NL NL7611307A patent/NL7611307A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1976-10-18 JP JP12479776A patent/JPS52101996A/en active Pending
- 1976-10-19 CH CH1324176A patent/CH614074A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1976-10-25 DE DE19762648271 patent/DE2648271A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1976-11-17 GB GB38534/76A patent/GB1570701A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-11-23 IT IT52302/76A patent/IT1074611B/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| SE7610454L (en) | 1977-08-24 |
| IT1074611B (en) | 1985-04-20 |
| DE2648271A1 (en) | 1977-08-25 |
| FR2341873A1 (en) | 1977-09-16 |
| IL50516A (en) | 1978-09-29 |
| ES452165A1 (en) | 1977-12-01 |
| NL7611307A (en) | 1977-08-25 |
| JPS52101996A (en) | 1977-08-26 |
| AU1811576A (en) | 1978-04-06 |
| AU510203B2 (en) | 1980-06-12 |
| BE847105A (en) | 1977-01-31 |
| SE416601B (en) | 1981-01-19 |
| GB1570701A (en) | 1980-07-09 |
| CH614074A5 (en) | 1979-10-31 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |