United States Patent
`Cross et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Oct. 25, 1988
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,780,608
`
`[54]
`
`LASER SUSTAINED DISCHARGE NOZZLE
`APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
`AN INTENSE BEAM OF HIGH KINETIC
`ENERGY ATOMIC SPECIES
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors:
`
`Jon B. Cross, Santa Fe; David A.
`Cremers, Los Alamos, both of N.
`Mex.
`
`[73]
`
`Assignee:
`
`The United States of America as
`represented by the United States
`Department of Energy, Washington,
`D.C.
`
`[21]
`
`[22]
`
`Appl. No.:
`Filed:
`
`150,008
`
`Jan. 26, 1988
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[63]
`
`[51]
`[52]
`
`[53]
`
`Continuation of Ser. No. 89,046, Aug. 24, 1987, aban-
`doned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 817,934,
`Jan. 10, 1986, abandoned.
`
`Int. Cl.4 .............................. ..
`U.S. Cl. .............................. ..
`
`.............. B01D 59/44
`250/281; 250/288;
`250/423 P; 376/122
`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
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,365,157 12/1982 Uns6]d eta]. ................. .. 250/423 P
`4,582,997 4/1986 Jacquot ............................. .. 250/425
`
`Primary Examiner—Bruce C. Anderson
`Attorney, Agent, or Fz'rm—Samuel M. Freund; Paul D.
`Gaetjens; Judson R. Hightower
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`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
`
`
`
`
` 77/71/14]: I
`
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