Longitudinally excited N(2) lasers without high-voltage switches.

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Laser Technology
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• High-voltage switches in laser excitation circuits can be complex and prone to failure.
• Developing simpler, more robust excitation methods is crucial for advancing laser technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate novel excitation circuits for nitrogen (N2) lasers that eliminate the need for high-voltage switches.
• To investigate two configurations: a single-tube system and a tandem-tube system, both using the discharge tube as the primary switch.

Main Methods:

• Developed two longitudinally excited N2 laser systems operating at a 337 nm wavelength.
• Implemented excitation circuits where the discharge tube itself functions as the switch.
• Applied slow-rising voltage pulses (-28 kV for single-tube, -48 kV for tandem-tube) with specific rise times.

Main Results:

• The single-tube system achieved a laser output energy of 125.8 microJ with 0.16% efficiency at 18 Torr.
• The tandem-tube system produced a higher laser output energy of 259.4 microJ with 0.11% efficiency at 18 Torr.
• Both systems successfully operated without external high-voltage switches, demonstrating the viability of the discharge tube as a switch.

Conclusions:

• Novel excitation circuits for N2 lasers can be effectively implemented without high-voltage switches.
• The discharge tube acting as a switch offers a simplified approach to laser excitation.
• The developed systems provide valuable insights for the design of future laser excitation circuits.