Calibration of a Kerr Cell System for High-Voltage Pulse Measurements

Several techniques for calibration of an electrooptical (Kerr cell) high-voltage pulse measuring system are described. Independent calibrations, without reference to pulse divider measurements, are achieved by application of a direct bias voltage to the Kerr cell. After calibration, experiments with voltages as high as 100 kV demonstrate reasonable agreement (to within 1 percent) between simultaneous Kerr cell and calibrated pulse divider measurements.