4,780,608
`[11] Patent Number:
`[19]
`United States Patent
`
` Cross et al. [45] Date of Patent: Oct. 25, 1988
`
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors:
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`[54] LASER SUSTAINED DISCHARGE NOZZLE
`APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
`AN INTENSE BEAM OF HIGH KINETIC
`ENERGY ATOMIC SPECIES
`'
`Jon B. Cross, Santa Fe; David A.
`Creme“ Los Alamos both of N_
`Mex_
`’
`’
`The United States of America as
`represented by the United States
`Department of Energy, Washington,
`D.C.
`[21] A1791‘ NO’: 150’008
`[22] Filed:
`Jan. 26, 1988
`
`~
`
`[63]
`
`Related US, Application Data
`C°“ti““3fi‘?“ °_f 59‘ N°_- 39946! ‘‘‘-“5- 24» 1937v ab”-“'
`gonetlié
`1: adconténuatlon of 5611 N°- 317934’
`’
`an‘
`’ 3 an we ’
`Int. Cl.4 .............................................. B01D 59/44
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl. .................................... 250/281; 250/288;
`250/423 P; 376/122
`[58] Field of Search ............. .. 250/281, 282, 287, 288,
`250/423 P; 60/202; 376/103, 104, 122, 144,
`145; 315/ 111.81
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`Us PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,365,157 12/1982 Uns61d et a1.
`................. .. 250/423 P
`4,582,997 4/1986 Jacquot ............................. .. 250/425
`,
`_
`Primary Exammer—-Bruce C. Anderson
`Attorney, Agent, or Fz'rrn—Samuel M. Freund; Paul D.
`Gaetjens; Judson R. Hightower
`
`_
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`Laser sustained discharge apparatus for the production
`of intense beams of high kinetic energy atomic species.
`A portion of the plasma resulting from a laser sustained
`continuous optical discharge which generates energetic
`atomic species from a gaseous source thereof is ex-
`panded through a nozzle into a region of low pressure.
`The expanded plasma contains a significant concentra-
`tion of the high kinetic energy atomic species which
`may be used to investigate the interaction of surfaces
`therewith. In particular, O-atoms having velocities in
`excess of 3.5 km/s can be generated for the purpose of
`studying their interaction with materials in order to
`develop protective materials for spacecraft which are
`exposed to such energetic O-atoms during operation in
`low earth Orbit.
`
`16 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`
`"7/7///An: I
`
`|.\\\\\.\\
`
`ASML 1015
`ASML 1213
`ASML 1213