Laser triggered spark gap using fiber optic transmission

Technical Report · Wed Dec 12 00:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5405724

Harjes, H C

The use of an optical fiber in a laser triggering system is described. The fiber transmits a high power ruby laser pulse which triggers a high voltage spark gap. The spark gap is a gas switch on a water dielectric Blumlein generator which is pulse charged by a three stage Marx bank. Typical operating parameters for the spark gap are: 2 cm gap, 2700 Torr pressure, Ar-N/sub 2/ gas mixture, and a charging voltage of 200 kV. The single strand, 1 mm, quartz, optical fiber is selected specifically for high power transmission capability. Laser pulses of 4 MW are coupled into and transmitted by the fiber with no observed damage. The overall optical system transmission efficiency is 62%. The triggering performance of the system is excellent in that switching delays of less than 10 ns and subnanosecond jitters are measured.

• Research Organization: Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock (USA). Dept. of Electrical Engineering
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5405724
• Report Number(s): UCRL-15202
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
42 ENGINEERING
SPARK GAPS
TRIGGER CIRCUITS
ARGON
BREAKDOWN
DESIGN
DIAGRAMS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FIBER OPTICS
GASES
GRAPHS
LASER RADIATION
NITROGEN
PERFORMANCE
PULSE TECHNIQUES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DATA
DATA FORMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
INFORMATION
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PULSE CIRCUITS
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
640300* - Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics
420300 - Engineering- Lasers- (-1989)