Excitation circuit for laser systems, especially for te-high energy

Abstract

An excitation circuit for laser systems with excitation by a maximally homogeneous, arc-free capacitor discharge in a gas space of a laser head between at least two mutually spaced-apart laser electrodes includes at least one fast acting high-voltage switch activatable via a pulse-forming network connected thereto for generating high-voltage pulses at the laser electrodes; first and second stripline capacitors and appertaining equivalent inductances operatively associated with the pulse-forming network and the high-voltage switch and the laser head; preionization devices operatively connected to the laser electrodes and having a plurality of members of at least one of surface discharge gap members and preionization rod members, together with auxiliary circuit connected thereto, the auxiliary circuits being connected to the pulse-forming network for providing all auxiliary voltages and currents for operating the preionization devices, the auxiliary circuits being connectible, in addition to ground potential of the excitation circuit, to at least one of three discrete circuit points of which one point is connected to a high-voltage input of the pulse-forming network, a second point is connected to a high-voltage branching point of the high-voltage switch and one of the stripline capacitors, and a third point is connected directly to the laser electrode having high potential, for controlling the instant of onset of the laser gas discharge and the time relationship between applying a high-voltage pulse to the laser electrodes, on the one hand, and applying a firing pulse to poles of the preionization devices, on the other hand.