Coherent light generators

SECTION I - CLASS DEFINITION

This is a restricted class for coherent light generator systems wherein an assembly of electrical, mechanical, and optical components produces an intense, coherent, directional beam of light by stimulating electronic, ionic, or molecular transitions to lower energy levels.

The generators of this system consists of (a) a medium which may be solid, liquid or gaseous, comprising a system of particles, molecules, or atoms; (b) means including a source of energy for setting the particles, molecules, or atoms into an excited energy state; and (c) means to abstract electromagnetic wave energy produced by the relaxation of the system of particles, molecules, or atoms to a lower energy state. The means to abstract electromagnetic wave energy provides for escape from said substance of substantially coherent electromagnetic radiation in the optical or Quasi-optical wavelength range. In general, the wavelength of the emitted radiation lies in the range from the ultraviolet to the far infrared of the electromagnetic spectrum, corresponding to a wavelength range extending from 100 to 2,000,000 angstroms.