Patent ID: 9048617
Filing Date: 2015-06-02
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A system for circulating a metal vapor, the system comprising: a pump configured to pump a buffer gas through an infuser transport channel; a metal source disposed in the infuser transport channel for exposure to the buffer gas; a source heat exchanger configured to be thermally coupled to the metal source to produce a metal vapor to combine with the buffer gas; an action chamber comprising an optical window, and disposed to receive the metal vapor and buffer gas combination from the infuser transport channel for a function that uses the metal vapor, and to flow the metal vapor and buffer gas combination into a diffuser transport channel; a metal vapor trap heat exchanger configured to be thermally coupled to the metal vapor and buffer gas combination flowing in the diffuser transport channel; a metal vapor trap disposed in the diffuser transport channel in thermal proximity to the metal vapor trap heat exchanger, the metal vapor trap configured to collect metal condensate as the metal vapor and buffer gas combination is cooled, where the diffuser transport channel extends beyond the metal vapor trap to provide an inflow of buffer gas without metal vapor to the pump, and where the pump is configured to provide a circulating gas flow through the infuser transport channel, the action chamber, and the diffuser transport channel; and a buffer gas flow channel connected at one end to the infuser transport channel between the pump and the metal source to receive the buffer gas without the metal vapor, the buffer gas flow channel connected at another end to the action chamber to flow the buffer gas without the metal vapor directly into the action chamber so as to form a gas curtain along the optical window of the action chamber.