All Solid State Copper Vapor Laser

Abstract

A copper vapor laser pumped with an all-solid-state switch modulator has been demonstrated forthe first time. The solid state switch modulator consists of static induction (SI) thyristors and twostage magnetic pulse compression circuits with saturable reactors. The maximum energy transferefficiency of the modulator was 67%. The modulator could work with high transfer efficiency over awide input energy range by optimization of the reset currents for saturable reactors. The averagelaser power was 21W at a 5kHz repetition rate.