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

We have developed novel excitation circuits without high-voltage switches for two longitudinally excited N(2) lasers (wavelength: 337 nm). One uses a single tube without a trigger and the other uses a tandem tube with a trigger. In both systems, the discharge tube acts as a switch. In the single-tube system, the laser output energy was 125.8 microJ and the efficiency was 0.16% at 18 Torr (2.4 kPa) when a slow-rising voltage pulse of -28 kV was applied (rise time: 21.3 micros). In the tandem-tube system, the laser output energy was 259.4 microJ and the efficiency was 0.11% at 18 Torr when a slow-rising voltage pulse of -48 kV was applied (rise time: 27 micros).