Miniature TEA N2 laser with automatically timed UV preionization

Abstract

A novel modification to the Blumlein circuit excitation method is presented which allows for automatically timed UV preionization of the main-glow discharge of a miniature 337-nm N2 TEA laser without the use of time-delayed circuits commonly used in larger transverse discharge lasers. The laser reliably produces subnanosecond, gain-switched output pulses of 65 kW at rates up to 50 Hz, with a stability of a few percent, and efficiency of 0.06%.