Abstract

Earlier we have demonstrated the possibility to use pulse generators with inductive energy storage and opening switches of different types (plasma erosion opening switch, crossatron, semiconducting diodes) for pumping N₂, XeCl and Ne Penning plasma lasers¹. It was shown that these generators allow to vary pumping regimes and provide optimal excitation of lasers of different types. However, the absence of simple and reliable opening switch providing interruption of a current with amplitude of several units-hundreds of kA and generating voltage pulses of several tens-hundreds of kV limited this pumping technique. The use of industrial semiconducting diodes of SDL type which under certain conditions have the property to interrupt current passing in the opposite direction and development of special semiconducting opening switches (SOS)² significantly expands the possibilities of application of generator with inductive energy storage (IES).

© 1998 IEEE