Abstract

Several types of low energy, ultrafast flashlamps systems have been investigated as optical pumps for lasers using fast decaying fluorescent materials, in particular, organic dyes. Of the various systems examined, the coaxial lamp with a spark gap switch proved to be the most useful for pumping the organic dyes. Parameters optimized were gas type, gas pressure, discharge volume, and electrical circuitry. At optimum operation, the annular volume of the coaxial lamp is completely filled with the discharge and the current rise time is determined mainly by the external circuit inductance. The rapidity and uniformity of the discharge is attributed to photoionization of the gas fill. Current rise times are typically 140 nsec for energies up to 100 J. Because of the photoionization process, these coaxial lamps are considered to be a different class of flashlamps from the standard capillary discharge lamp, the sliding spark lamp, and the ablating wall lamp. Less useful systems that were investigated are described, and the reason for their deficiencies are analyzed.

© 1969 Optical Society of America

Coaxial Marx-Bank Driver and Flashlamp for Optical Excitation of Organic Dye Lasers

Theodore F. Ewanizky and Roland H. Wright
Appl. Opt. 12(1) 120-122 (1973)

Vortex Stabilized Flashlamps for Dye Laser Pumping

M. E. Mack
Appl. Opt. 13(1) 46-55 (1974)

Early Termination of Flashlamp Pumped Dye Laser Pulses by Shock Wave Formation

S. Blit, A. Fisher, and U. Ganiel
Appl. Opt. 13(2) 335-340 (1974)

Prepulse Enhancement of Flashlamp Pumped Dye Laser

Michael H. Ornstein and Vernon E. Derr
Appl. Opt. 13(9) 2100-2104 (1974)

Ablative flashlamps for high peak power dye lasers

Y. Levy, G. Neumann, and D. Treves
Appl. Opt. 16(8) 2293-2296 (1977)