Xenon flashlamp triggering for laser applications

Results of an investigation into the triggering of linear xenon flashlamps are presented, with particular reference to xenon flashlamps in laser applications. Measurements are described which give information on the arc formation process, trigger voltage thresholds, peak trigger currents, lamp energy output stability, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) for both series and parallel triggering. Particular attention is given to the performance obtained with both the correct and the incorrect polarities for the two types of triggering. The investigation makes extensive use of a high-speed streak camera and a wideband (100 MHz) continuous sweep spectrum analyzer, as well as more conventional instrumentation. It was found that: 1) the triggering process is extremely fast (≤50 ns) for both methods, but that parallel triggering produces trigger currents which are 100 times smaller than series; 2) the trigger current rather than the main energy, discharge current is the dominant EMI source; 3) the measured RF spectra show the corresponding EMI superiority of parallel over series; and 4) the two methods are equivalent in regard to the effect on lamp efficiency and stability.