SEALED TUBE TECHNOLOGY FOR METAL VAPOR LASERS

THE OBJECTIVE OF PHASE I IS TO DEFINE THE MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES REQUIRED TO FABRICATE SEALED CVL TUBES. A SELECTION OF THE MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES THOUGHT TO BE USEFUL IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH TUBES WILL BE MADE BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIMENTAL DATA AND THEORETICAL PREDICTIONS. SCREEN TESTING, INCLUDING MOR AND VACUUM LEAK AFTER 1500 DEG C EXPOSED TO COPPER VAPOR WILL BE MADE TO DETERMINE MATERIALS COMPATIBILITY AND TO SELECT THE JOINING PROCESS. THE USE OF A 1300 DEG C DEVITRIFYING HIGH TEMPERATURE GLASS SEALANT WILL BE STUDIED AS A COST REDUCTION MEASURE. A PROCEDURE FOR ADDITIONAL SCREENING AS A PHASE II TASK WILL BE DEVISED AND PRELIMINARY TESTS WILL BE MADE IN THIS PHASE IF FUNDS ALLOW. IN ALL CASES TESTS WILL FOLLOW PROCEDURES ALREADY FULLY DEVELOPED FOR COMPARABLE SITUATIONS. CVL'S, OFFERS A UNIQUE TOOL FOR HIGH SPEED IMAGING. FOR EXAMPLE THEY FIND USES IN BALLISTICS, FLOW VISUALIZATION AND COMBUSTION RESEARCH. DYE LASER PUMPING FOR ISOTOPE SEPARATION IS ANOTHER APPLICATION.