G - Physics
10
K
G10K 15/04 (2006.01) H01S 3/00 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 2103670
2103670 9215985 PCTABS00016 Apparatus for improving properties of a solid material by providing shock waves therein. A laser oscillator (10a) provides a plurality of pulses (112) of coherent radiation. The leading edge of each pulse is sharpened either by a metal foil (18) or by phase conjugation reflection means (18a, 18e) including a stimulated Brillouin scattering cell (18d, 18e) and optionally a Faraday isolator (18b). Each pulse is directed onto an amplifier (123) comprising first and second laser amplifier rods (23a, 23b) in series. At least a major portion of the radiation (112) amplified by the first amplifier rod (23a) is directed to the second amplifier rod (23b), where it is amplified and then directed to a surface of the solid material. Substantially uniform spatial amplitude is achieved in the radiation (112) in at least one of these ways: a pair of flashlamps (70, 71) are included with each laser amplifier rod (23a, 23b) for pumping the rod; the axis of each flashlamp (70, 71) and the axis of the first rod (23a) are substantially parallel to each other and substantially in the same (first) plane; and a (second) plane containing the axis of the second rod (23b) and the parallel axes of its associated flashlamps (70, 71) is substantially perpendicular to the first plane; and/or the oscillator (10c) provides a beam of unpolarized coherent radiation (12T) in which the spatial amplitude pattern of each succeeding pulse is substantially a mirror image of the pattern in the pulse that preceded it, or is rotated about its axis by a predetermined smaller angle from the pattern in the pulse that preceded it.
Dulaney Jeffrey L.
Epstein Harold M.
Sokol David W.
Battelle Memorial Institute Pacific Northwest Division
Fetherstonhaugh & Co.
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