The electrical simulation of a gas discharge excited copper laser

A circuit model of a gas laser discharge is described for use with simulator packages such as SPICE to describe the behavior of the combined circuit representing a copper vapor laser with its modulator drive. The study treats the laser tube and discharge combination as a transmission line with time-varying impedance elements for which the time variation is achieved by the introduction of controlled voltage and current sources. Theoretical and experimental results are compared. The model has been used on a day-to-day basis to assist in interpreting the circuit behavior of laboratory lasers during their operation so as to reduce stress on the power switch (thyratron) and other components