Pumping technique for 100 pps operation of a glass laser

Abstract

An energy capacitor charging technique was designed and tested for a Nd3+ doped glass laser system. The circuit is capable of delivering 19 J at 100 pps operation or 1.9 kW of power continuously to the flashlamp with a short burst capability of 140 pps operation. A dual in-line switching circuit composed of a water-cooled ignitron and a hydrogen thyratron tube with sequential grid drive is used in the energy capacitor charging system to assure flashlamp deionization. A simplified circuit approach which uses only one switching element is also discussed. A high system power efficiency of greater than 80% is possible with this latter approach.