M. V. Trigub

Influence of the discharge circuit inductance on output characteristics of a CuBr laser

The dependence of energy characteristics of an average-volume CuBr laser with and without addition of HBr on the rate of discharge current rise is studied. The energy characteristic is varied by connecting an additional inductance in the discharge circuit. It is shown that the average lasing power of the CuBr laser decreases tenfold with an increase in the inductance up to 4 μH. Under similar conditions, the average lasing power of the CuBr laser with addition of HBr decreases by less than two times. The fraction of lasing at the yellow line changes less. Thus, the presence of an electronegative addition to the active medium of a CuBr laser decreases requirements for the pulse power supply.

A bistatic laser monitor

A prototype of a bistatic laser projection system employing copper bromide vapor based active media is presented that allows remote objects and high-speed processes to be monitored online. The proposed scheme employs two active elements: one in the source for lighting the object and another in the image brightness amplifier.

Brightness amplifiers with PRF up to 100 kHz

In this paper the design of high speed brightness amplifiers on transitions of copper and manganese atoms is discussed. A possibility of obtaining images in active optical systems with a brightness amplifier operating at 100 kHz frequency is demonstrated. The results of comparing the images obtained using brightness amplifiers on copper bromide and manganese bromide vapors are given.

MnBr vapor active medium with a built-in reactor at 100-kHz pulse repetition frequency

Frequency and energy characteristics of a MnBr vapor laser with a built-in reactor, i.e., with gas vapors being produced within a gas discharge tube, and the dependence of the average output power on different parameters are studied in this work. The values of the GDT wall temperature and buffer gas pressure required for obtaining the maximum output power are determined. It is shown that active media of this kind are as good as media with a conventional method of gas vapor production. A pulse repetition frequency of 100 kHz is attained for the first time for a medium on Mn atom transitions. The use of this active medium as a brightness amplifier in active optical systems is described; the amplifying characteristics are analyzed.

Corona discharge in atmospheric pressure air when using modulated voltage pulses

Formation and decay of diffuse channels of a corona discharge in atmospheric pressure air when applying modulated voltage pulses to the electrode are studied. Photomultiplier tubes, a high-speed camera, and a CuBr vapor laser monitor are used to record the radiation from the corona discharge. It is shown that the radiation of diffuse corona discharge channels is time modulated, and the pulse repetition frequency is twice as high as the voltage pulse modulation frequency (∼ 290 kHz). It is also shown that the breakdowns can occur over a short distance when bending the corona discharge channel, which reduces the channel blurring.

Dynamics of apokamp-type atmospheric pressure plasma jets initiated in air by a repetitive pulsed discharge

This paper presents the research data on the dynamics of a repetitive pulsed discharge as a source of plasma jets in atmospheric pressure air and on the conditions under which the discharge produces apokamp–plasma jets ejected from the bending point of the discharge channel with no gas supply through the discharge region. The data suggest that the formation of apokamps requires the application of a large number of voltage pulses to sharp-ended electrodes at a repetition frequency of several to tens of kilohertz. Before an apokamp starts developing, the apokamp-initiating discharge passes through a spark stage and then becomes diffuse. Next, at the site of electric field amplification, the discharge channel gives rise to a bright branch from which plasma bullets escape with a velocity of ∼200 km/s. The images of different discharge and apokamp stages are presented.

Studying of solid-state power supply unit of CuBr-laser

The paper presents the results of the study of solid-state power supply units for pumping CuBr-lasers of various geometry. The possibility of developing solid-state high-frequency (>100 kHz) power supply units is demonstrated, and the results of simulation and breadboarding of solid-state high-voltage power supply units for pumping CuBr-lasers are discussed.

Laser Monitors for High Speed Imaging of Plasma, Beam and Discharge Processes

The imaging results of different processes blocked from the observation by the intense background light are presented in this paper. Active optical systems based on high-frequency brightness amplifier are used to decrease the negative factor of the glare. The experimental and modeling results on obtaining high pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) (more than 100 kHz) of copper bromide vapor brightness amplifiers operating in a low input energy mode are shown. The use of metal vapor brightness amplifiers for visual non-destructive testing of fast processes obscured by the glare is also discussed. It has been shown that the imaging method proposed in this paper proves to be the most reliable to obtain the information about objects or processes in a real time mode using high PRF CuBr active media.

High Prf Metal Vapor Laser Active Media For Visual And Optical Monitoring

In this paper the feasibility of using metal vapor lasers for visual and optical monitoring of fast processes is discussed. The theoretical calculations consistent with the experimental study have been performed. The possibility of visualizing objects with pulse repetition frequency of the brightness amplifier up to 60 kHz has been demonstrated. The visualization results of the corona discharge are also given.

CuBr Laser for Nanopowder Production Visualization

The paper presents first results on the use of a CuBr laser for high-speed imaging of the process of nanomaterial synthesis. Various imaging circuits are considered. A possibility of full suppression of stray background light, which is the laser monitor main advantage for diagnostics, is shown. The application areas for each circuit are discussed.