US 12,171,055 B2
Pulsed laser thermal excitation
Stephen William McCahon, Tucson, AZ (US); and Gregory J. Quarles, Tucson, AZ (US)
Assigned to APPLIED ENERGETICS, INC., Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed by APPLIED ENERGETICS, INC, Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/651,128.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/156,672, filed on Mar. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/149,444, filed on Feb. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0264736 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. H05H 1/46 (2006.01)
CPC H05H 1/46 (2013.01) 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for generating a range specific thermal plasma, comprising:
a pulsed laser configured to produce a pulsed wavefront at a peak power, the peak power exceeding a self-focusing critical power level; and
an optical wavefront controlling element having one or more optical lens configured to diverge the pulsed wavefront based on a ratio of the peak power to the self-focusing critical power level, and an atmospheric condition thereby initiating whole beam collapse at a designated range.