Transparent electrode for optical switch

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:866002

Goldhar, Julius ^[1]; Henesian, Mark A ^[2]

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1. San Ramon, CA
2. Livermore, CA

A low pressure gas electrode utilizing ionized gas in a glow discharge regime forms a transparent electrode for electro-optical switches. The transparent electrode comprises a low pressure gas region on both sides of the crystal. When the gas is ionized, e.g., by a glow discharge in the low pressure gas, the plasma formed is a good conductor. The gas electrode acts as a highly uniform conducting electrode. Since the plasma is transparent to a high energy laser beam passing through the crystal, the electrode is a transparent electrode. A crystal exposed from two sides to such a plasma can be charged up uniformly to any desired voltage. The plasma can be created either by the main high voltage pulser used to charge up the crystal or by auxiliary discharges or external sources of ionization. A typical configuration utilizes 10 torr argon in the discharge region adjacent to each crystal face.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4615588
• OSTI ID: 866002
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

transparent
electrode
optical
switch
pressure
gas
utilizing
ionized
glow
discharge
regime
forms
electro-optical
switches
comprises
region
crystal
plasma
formed
conductor
highly
uniform
conducting
energy
laser
beam
passing
exposed
charged
uniformly
desired
voltage
created
main
pulser
charge
auxiliary
discharges
external
sources
ionization
typical
configuration
utilizes
10
torr
argon
adjacent
highly uniform
transparent electrode
ionized gas
conducting electrode
gas region
discharge region
voltage pulse
beam passing
pressure gas
laser beam
glow discharge
external source
energy laser
region adjacent
plasma formed
electrode comprises
desired voltage
optical switch
external sources
gas electrode
voltage pulser
optical switches
/359/313/