Laser with combined q-switch and synchronized cavity dump circuit

Abstract

Abstract A laser employing a single modulator in the form of a Pockels cell in the laser cavity and a polarizer. The polarizer in the cavity passes radiation having one polarization direction coming from one direction and diverts radiation having another polarization direction into an absorber. The polarizer passes radiation having one polarization direction coming from an opposite direction and diverts radiation having the other polarization direction into an output path. The modulator in the cavity rotates the polarization direction of radiation to establish the other polarization direction when energized and permits passage of radiation when it is deenergized. A high voltage electrical waveform generator circuit is provided which generates a voltage waveform having a positive DC voltage leading edge and a negative DC voltage trailing edge to the modulator. A gas trigger tube is provided in the circuit which generates a positive DC voltage leading edge in its plate circuit when it is independently triggered by a trigger signal. Another gas trigger tube generates a positive voltage when it is triggered by another trigger signal from a photodiode positioned to intercept radiation leaking from laser cavity. A coupling circuit which couples the plate circuits of the trigger tubes includes a capacitor which converts the positive voltage generated by the other trigger tube into the negative DC voltage trailing edge of the voltage waveform. The coupling circuit may also include a differentiator which allows the voltage levels on the trigger tube plates to be independently varied without affecting each other.

Inventors

• 👤 Ronald P Hilberg

Bibliographic Details