Development of a reliable fast response laser-triggered dielectric switch

Abstract

Detailed performances of a laser triggered dielectric switch (LTDS) are described. Thin polypropylene films of 25 or 35 μm in thickness were used for insulation of the spark gap. Maintenance-free operation was achieved by automatic winding of the film after each laser shot. A square optical pulse of 1 ns duration with a rise time of less than 350 ps was generated by using a fast Pockels cell driven by the LTDS with good reproducibility. The switching jitter was measured to be less than the detection limit of 100 ps. Using the LTDS, a single pulse was selected from a mode-locked pulse train with the success probability of better than 95%. Comparison of the performance of the LTDS with other switching devices are given.