Patents by Inventor Michael H. Helle
Michael H. Helle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20210384692Abstract: A laser architecture for selectively producing short high-energy laser pulses having octave-spanning, continuous tunability. Two oppositely chirped pulses are used in combination with a pair of tunable pulse stretcher/compressors to produce a short, high-energy, tunable, broadband pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Michael H. Helle
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Patent number: 11133637Abstract: A laser architecture for selectively producing short high-energy laser pulses having octave-spanning, continuous tunability. Two oppositely chirped pulses are used in combination with a pair of tunable pulse stretcher/compressors to produce a short, high-energy, tunable, broadband pulse.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Michael H. Helle
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Publication number: 20200136335Abstract: A laser architecture for selectively producing short high-energy laser pulses having octave-spanning, continuous tunability. Two oppositely chirped pulses are used in combination with a pair of tunable pulse stretcher/compressors to produce a short, high-energy, tunable, broadband pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Michael H. Helle
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Publication number: 20160345420Abstract: A plurality of gas jet nozzles having equal angular separation around a central axis eject gas flows towards the central axis. The gas flows collide and form a gas channel from the neutral gas, the gas channel having a gas density depression at the center of the intersecting gas flow, where the gas density depression is surrounded by a higher density gaseous wall along the central axis. Ionization of the gas in the center produces a plasma channel that can guide a laser pulse fired into the gas along the central axis. The geometric arrangement of the gas jets and/or the backing pressure of the gas flows are configured to produce a gas channel having a predetermined density profile such that the ionized gas forms a plasma channel laser guiding structure configured to guide a laser pulse having predetermined spatial parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Dmitri Kaganovich, Michael H. Helle, John Palastro, Antonio C. Ting, Daniel F. Gordon, Yu-hsin Chen
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Patent number: 9497843Abstract: A plurality of gas jet nozzles having equal angular separation around a central axis eject gas flows towards the central axis. The gas flows collide and form a gas channel from the neutral gas, the gas channel having a gas density depression at the center of the intersecting gas flow, where the gas density depression is surrounded by a higher density gaseous wall along the central axis. Ionization of the gas in the center produces a plasma channel that can guide a laser pulse fired into the gas along the central axis. The geometric arrangement of the gas jets and/or the backing pressure of the gas flows are configured to produce a gas channel having a predetermined density profile such that the ionized gas forms a plasma channel laser guiding structure configured to guide a laser pulse having predetermined spatial parameters.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Dmitri Kaganovich, Michael H. Helle, John Palastro, Antonio C. Ting, Daniel F. Gordon, Yu-hsin Chen
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Patent number: 9370085Abstract: A method for generating coherent, polarized, and tunable X-rays using a single laser pulse is provided. An ultrashort laser pulse is fired into a plasma. As the laser beam travels through the plasma, some of its photons are backscattered, e.g., through Raman backscattering, to generate a counter-propagating photon beam that is co-linear with the original laser beam. When the backscattered photons interact with high-energy accelerated periodic electron bunches, coherent X-rays are generated through Compton backscattering of the photons off of the electrons. The energy of the backscattered X-rays can be tuned by tuning one or more characteristics of the laser pulse and/or the plasma.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Dmitri Kaganovich, Antonio C. Ting, Michael H. Helle, Daniel F. Gordon, Bahman Hafizi, John Palastro
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Patent number: 9285594Abstract: Methods for producing a laser-guided underwater electrical discharge are provided. One or more electrodes defining a desired electrical discharge path are situated in a body of water and are attached to an external electrical power supply. A high-powered, intense laser beam is fired through one or more focusing lenses into the water. The laser beam forms an optical filament in the water, which in turn forms an ionized channel having a much greater conductivity than the surrounding water. An external power supply drives an electrical discharge along the path of the ionized channel due to its greater conductivity.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Theodore G. Jones, Antonio C. Ting, Daniel F. Gordon, Michael H. Helle
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Patent number: 9246295Abstract: A high power ultrashort chirped pulse amplifier laser system, with a chirped pulse amplifier laser module including an optical pulse stretcher, at least one optical power amplifier, and an optical pulse compressor, and a beam interferometer module in the optical path. The beam interferometer receives splits the pulse into at least two pulses, adds a time delay to at least one of the pulses and recombines the pulses to produce a temporally modulated pulse. The resulting modulated output pulse from the CPA laser module can have enhanced laser contrast due to greatly reduced subpicosecond pedestal in the immediate region of the peak pulse, or can have other desirable characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Dmitri Kaganovich, Joseph R. Penano, Michael H. Helle, Antonio C. Ting, Daniel F. Gordon, Bahman Hafizi
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Publication number: 20160014874Abstract: A method for generating coherent, polarized, and tunable X-rays using a single laser pulse is provided. An ultrashort laser pulse is fired into a plasma. As the laser beam travels through the plasma, some of its photons are backscattered, e.g., through Raman backscattering, to generate a counter-propagating photon beam that is co-linear with the original laser beam. When the backscattered photons interact with high-energy accelerated periodic electron bunches, coherent X-rays are generated through Compton backscattering of the photons off of the electrons. The energy of the backscattered X-rays can be tuned by tuning one or more characteristics of the laser pulse and/or the plasma.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Dmitri Kaganovich, Antonio C. Ting, Michael H. Helle, Daniel F. Gordon, Bahman Hafizi, John Palastro
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Patent number: 9088123Abstract: A method for generating an extended underwater plasma. A first laser pulse is fired into a body of water to form an underwater optical filament coinciding with a low-energy plasma. A second laser pulse is fired into the water, targeted at the plasma. The second pulse heats the plasma, causing the formation of an extended superheated plasma volume in the water. The two laser pulses can be simultaneous or can be sequential, with the second pulse following the first pulse by up to the filament plasma lifetime. The extended superheated plasma creates an underwater acoustic pulse, wherein the duration, waveform and directivity of the pulse can be tailored by controlling the shape of the underwater laser-generated plasma.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Theodore G. Jones, Antonio C. Ting, Daniel F. Gordon, Michael H. Helle, Joseph R. Peñano
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Publication number: 20150146748Abstract: A high power ultrashort chirped pulse amplifier laser system, with a chirped pulse amplifier laser module including an optical pulse stretcher, at least one optical power amplifier, and an optical pulse compressor, and a beam interferometer module in the optical path. The beam interferometer receives splits the pulse into at least two pulses, adds a time delay to at least one of the pulses and recombines the pulses to produce a temporally modulated pulse. The resulting modulated output pulse from the CPA laser module can have enhanced laser contrast due to greatly reduced subpicosecond pedestal in the immediate region of the peak pulse, or can have other desirable characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: The Government of the US, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Dmitri Kaganovich, Joseph R. Penano, Michael H. Helle, Antonio C. Ting, Daniel F. Gordon, Bahman Hafizi
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Publication number: 20150146338Abstract: Methods for producing a laser-guided underwater electrical discharge are provided. One or more electrodes defining a desired electrical discharge path are situated in a body of water and are attached to an external electrical power supply. A high-powered, intense laser beam is fired through one or more focusing lenses into the water. The laser beam forms an optical filament in the water, which in turn forms an ionized channel having a much greater conductivity than the surrounding water. An external power supply drives an electrical discharge along the path of the ionized channel due to its greater conductivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2014Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Theodore G. Jones, Antonio C. Ting, Daniel F. Gordon, Michael H. Helle
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Publication number: 20130148685Abstract: A method for generating an extended underwater plasma. A first laser pulse is fired into a body of water to form an underwater optical filament coinciding with a low-energy plasma. A second laser pulse is fired into the water, targeted at the plasma. The second pulse heats the plasma, causing the formation of an extended superheated plasma volume in the water. The two laser pulses can be simultaneous or can be sequential, with the second pulse following the first pulse by up to the filament plasma lifetime. The extended superheated plasma creates an underwater acoustic pulse, wherein the duration, waveform and directivity of the pulse can be tailored by controlling the shape of the underwater laser-generated plasma.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2012Publication date: June 13, 2013Inventors: Theodore G. Jones, Antonio C. Ting, Daniel F. Gordon, Michael H. Helle, Joseph R. Peñano