Laser flashtube triggering arrangement

Claim 2

A laser excitation arrangement comprising: a transformer including a spool-shaped member of electrically insulating material the core portion of which defines an elongated laser pump cavity along the axis thereof, a primary winding and at least one secondary winding coaxially wound about said spool-shaped member with said secondary winding disposed radially inwardly of said primary winding; an element of laser material and a flashtube for optically pumping said laser element mounted parallel to one another within said laser pump cavity; and electrical excitation means including a pulse forming network coupled to said flashtube and means for applying trigger pulses to said primary winding.

Claim 3

A laser excitation arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said electrically insulating material is ceramic.

Claim 4

A laser excitation arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said transformer includes a plurality of secondary windings connected in series with one another and coaxially wound about said spool-shaped member at different radial locations inwardly of said primary winding.

Claim 5

A laser excitation arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said pulse-forming network includes a capacitor coupled between a pair of power supply terminals, an inductor coupled between one of said pair of power supply terminals and an electrode of said flashtube, and the other electrode of said flashtube being coupled to the other of said pair of power supply terminals.

Claim 6

A laser excitation arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said means for applying trigger pulses to said primary winding includes a controlled rectifier having a current path and a control electrode, said current path and a resistor being coupled in series between a pair of power supply terminals, a capacitor coupled between a terminal of said primary winding and the junction between said resistor and said controlled rectifier, another terminal of said primary winding being coupled to one of said pair of power supply terminals, and means for applying input pulses to the control electrode of said controlled rectifier.

Claim 7

A laser excitation arrangement comprising: a transformer including a spool-shaped core member of electrically insulating material, said core member defining a pair of radially outwardly extending annular wall portions at opposite ends thereof and further defining an elongated laser pump cavity along the axis thereof, a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings coaxially wound about said core member at different radial locations with said secondary windings disposed radially inwardly of said primary winding, an end of said primary winding being electrically connected to an end of the outermost secondary winding, an electrical conductor interconnecting the longitudinally opposite ends of each pair of successive secondary windings, a layer of electrically insulating material disposed between each secondary winding and the adjacent interconnecting conductor and between said outermost secondary winding and said primary winding, and electrically insulating potting material disposed between said annular wall portions and surrounding said primary and secondary windings and each said interconnecting conductor; an element of laser material and a flashtube for optically pumping said laser element mounted parallel to one another within said laser pump cavity; and electrical excitation means including a pulse-forming network coupled to said flashtube and means for applying trigger pulses to said primary winding.

Claim 8

A laser excitation arrangement comprising: a transformer including a spool-shaped core member of electrically insulating material, said core member defining a pair of radially outwardly extending annular wall portions at opposite ends thereof and further defining an elongated laser pump cavity along the axis thereof, a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings coaxially wound about said core member at different radial locations with said secondary windings disposed radially inwardly of said primary winding, an end of said primary winding being electrically connected to an end of the outermost secondary winding, an electrical conductor interconnecting the longitudinally opposite ends of each pair of successive secondary windings, a layer of electrically insulating material disposed between each secondary winding and the adjacent interconnecting conductor and between said outermost secondary winding and said primary winding, and electrically insulating potting material disposed between said annular wall portions and surrounding said primary and secondary windings and each said interconnecting conductor; an element of laser material and a flashtube for optically pumping said laser element mounted parallel to one another within said laser pump cavity; and electrical excitation means including a pulse-forming network coupled to said flashtube and means for applying trigger pulses to said primary winding.

Claim 9

A laser excitation arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said electrical excitation means includes first, second and third power supply terminals, an inductor coupled Between said first power supply terminal and an electrode of said flashtube, the other electrode of said flashtube being coupled to said third power supply terminal, a first capacitor coupled between said first and third power supply terminals, a controlled rectifier having a current path and a control electrode, a resistor and said current path being coupled in series between said second and third power supply terminals, said third power supply terminal being coupled to said end of said primary winding, a second capacitor coupled between the other end of said primary winding and the junction between said resistor and said controlled rectifier, and means for applying input pulses to the control electrode of said controlled rectifier.