Magnetically switched power supply system for lasers
In a power supply system for providing energy necessary to avalanche ionize gas and subsequently the energy necessary to provide a sustained discharge of the gas after ionization in an electric discharge gas laser having discharge electrodes in which a voltage necessary to avalanche ionize the gas exceeds a sustained discharge voltage, this patent describes the combination which comprises: (a) a source of electrical energy; (b) a first energy storage device; (c) means connected between the electrical energy source and the first energy storage device for periodically charging the first energy storage device; (d) conductor means connected between the first energy storage device and the discharge electrodes of the laser; (e) output saturable inductor switch means coupled to the conductor means and providing a high impedance to current flow through the conductor means; (f) avalanche ionization pulse-generating means coupled to the conductor means for supplying an avalanche ionization pulse to the discharge electrodes of the laser. The method of providing excitation energy to an electric discharge gas laser having a pair of discharge electrodes is described.
- Assignee:
- Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4698518
- OSTI ID:
- 5773763
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
DESIGN
ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRODES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EQUIPMENT
EXCITATION
FLUIDS
FUNCTION GENERATORS
GAS LASERS
GASES
IONIZATION
LASERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
POWER SUPPLIES
PULSE GENERATORS
SWITCHES