Microchip Laser-Based Optoelectronic System for Kilovolt Picosecond Electromagnetic Pulse Generation

An optoelectronic electromagnetic generator was developed for the creation and shaping of picosecond pulses. The system integrated a homemade compact picosecond source. The infrared pulse-source switches optoelectronic components mounted on a microstrip line generator. The technology is based on a microchip laser that delivers subnanosecond pulses, whose duration is shortened in a standard optical fiber before amplification in a 3D multipass amplifier. This technique permits the generation of picosecond optical pulses with several tens of microjoules and kilohertz repetition rates. Rectangular electrical picosecond pulses with kilovolt positive and negative amplitudes are obtained with particular shapes and bipolar electrical pulses.