Liquid Transmission Line Pulser Circuit for Laser Excitation

摘要

The subject of this report is the study of liquid dielectric transmission lines and their potential application as a reliable excitation source in high power, high repetition rate laser designs. The design problems associated with the construction of high repetition rate (khz), short wavelength lasers have been reviewed and the major shortcomings of conventional electrical driving circuits identified. The identification of these shortcomings and a review of the available literature on electrical circuits for various types of lasers suggested that liquid dielectrics and transmission lines could potentially have significant advantages over more conventional circuitry used in high repetition rate, short wavelength lasers. Use of this excitation source for laser pumping is expected to result in major performance improvements with regard to high average power, high repetition rate operation, high wall-plug efficiency, and high reliability. The pump source consists essentially of a fast and highly reliable electrical driving or pulse forming network coupled either to a series of sparks for optical pumping or to a simple discharge or direct gas excitation.