Title :
Pulsed power for copper vapour lasers
Author :
Jones, D.R. ; Maitland, A. ; Little, C.E.
Author_Institution :
J. F. Allen Res. Labs., St. Andrews Univ., Fife, UK
Abstract :
Copper vapour lasers (CVLs) are driven by a modulator, the key element of which is a closing switch. High-power copper vapour lasers (>100 W output power) require the switch to commutate peak currents of 300 A-1.5 kA of 50-200 ns duration at pulse recurrence frequencies (PRFs) of 4-20 kHz. Furthermore, the modulator must be able to deliver average powers of the order of 10 kW to the laser tube. The predominant switches employed are thyratrons, although both triggered spark gaps and thyristors have also been used
Keywords :
copper; gas lasers; laser accessories; modulators; power supplies to apparatus; pulse generators; pulsed power technology; spark gaps; switchgear; thyratrons; thyristor applications; 10 kW; 300 A to 1.5 kA; 4 to 20 kHz; 50 to 200 ns; Cu; closing switch; commutation; copper vapour lasers; modulator; power supply; pulse recurrence frequencies; pulsed power; switchgear; thyratrons; thyristors; triggered spark gaps;
Conference_Titel :
Pulsed Power '94, IEE Colloquium on
Conference_Location :
London
