Theodore N Ledbetter

US Patent:

39861295, Oct 12, 1976

Filed:

Jul 25, 1972

Appl. No.:

5/274541

Inventors:

John A. Caffo - Albuquerque NM
Alexander A. Abela - Albuquerque NM
Theodore N. Ledbetter - Albuquerque NM
Darrell W. Joubert - Albuquerque NM

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air
Force - Washington DC

International Classification:

H01S 308
H01S 311
H01S 323

US Classification:

330 43

Abstract:

A standard cavity, Q switched laser is used to initiate and sustain submicrosecond pulses in a long laser. Short pulses from the standard cavity laser are directed onto the remote reflector of a long laser and are then reflected back through the lasing material of the long laser. Properly timed activation of the long laser lasing material causes amplification and oscillation of the pulses in the long laser cavity. Beam expanding telescopes are used to focus the laser pulses on the long laser's remote reflector.