Pulsed power for a rep-rate, electron beam pumped KrF laser

Author

Sethian, J.D. ; Myers, M. ; Smith, Ian D. ; Carboni, V. ; Kishi, J. ; Morton, D. ; Pearce, J. ; Bowen, B. ; Schlitt, L. ; Barr, O. ; Webster, W.

Author_Institution

Div. of Plasma Phys., Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

28

Issue

5

fYear

2000

fDate

10/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1333

Lastpage

1337

Abstract

A new type of pulsed power system has been designed and built for a rep-rate, electron beam, pumped KrF laser. The system consists of two independent 11.2-kJ generators, which operate continuously at 5 Hz and produce two opposing 500-kV, 110-kA, 100-ns flat-top electron beams. The system combines the spark gap prime switch/step-up transformer design from the AIRIX and DAHRT injectors, and the water pulse-forming lines/output switch/vacuum insulator design from the Nike 60-cm amplifier. The system is fully operational, with both sides operating together. One side has operated continuously at 5 Hz for 90000 shots. The paper describes the system and the results of initial tests, including electrode wear

Keywords

electron beam pumping; excimer lasers; krypton compounds; laser accessories; laser beams; pulse generators; pulsed power supplies; pulsed power switches; 100 ns; 11.2 kJ; 110 kA; 5 Hz; 500 kV; 60 cm; AIRIX injectors; DAHRT injectors; KrF; KrF laser; Nike 60-cm amplifier; electrode wear; electron beam pumped KrF laser; flat-top electron beams; initial tests; output switch; pulsed power; pulsed power system; rep-rate electron beam pumped laser; spark gap prime switch; spark gap prime switch/step-up transformer design; step-up transformer; vacuum insulator design; water pulse-forming lines; Electron beams; Laser excitation; Optical pulses; Power lasers; Power transformer insulation; Pulse amplifiers; Pulse power systems; Pulse transformers; Pump lasers; Switches;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.901193

Filename

901193