A copper vapour laser (CVL) has been successfully operated with a magnetic pulse compression (MPC) driver. With the MPC circuit the laser output power is increased, and stresses on the thyratron are reduced leading to an increased tube life. A theoretical analysis of the MPC is presented and compared with experimental results.
Magnetic pulse compression (MPC) is widely used to drive high-power pulsed lasers such as metal vapor, excimer, and chemical lasers. A simulation program has been successfully operated for the study and enhancement of experimental results. Starting from the experimental laser voltage and current wave forms, an equivalent time-varying impedance for the laser tube has been derived. This impedance is incorporated into a simple model of the driver equivalent electrical circuit. This circuit is simulated under various changes of the MPC geometric and magnetic parameters to enhance the impedance matching between the electrical circuit and the laser tube load. Energy dissipation in the various components of the electrical equivalent circuit can be calculated by developing an equivalent circuit in the same way we developed the equivalent circuit of the load.
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