Paper
18 May 1987 Compact, Efficient, Solid-State Flashlamp Modulator
John L. Matilaine, Walter F. J. Crewson
Author Affiliations +
Proceedings Volume 0735, Pulse Power for Lasers; (1987) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.938048
Event: OE LASE'87 and EO Imaging Symposium, 1987, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Abstract
The Universal Voltronics type BAX-1.6-15,000-RC-LANL flashlamp modulator built for Los Alamos National Lahoratories in 1984 has proved a highly reliable unit. It has delivered over limo hours of failure-free service. This unit develops 15 kW average output power; it contains two separate PFN subsystems, each with 30 microfarad capacitance, charged to 1414 volts, which deliver 1000-ampere pulses to two flashlamp loads at 250Hz. The efficiency of the unit is in the 90-percent range. About one kW is dissipated inside the modulator. The entire modulator is packaged in a 4 ft. long, 2 ft. high, 2 ft. wide enclosure, and is water cooled. It consists of solid-state controls (shot counters, digital voltmeters, LED indicators), an SCR-regulated DC supply with water-cooled transformer, an SCR command charger and water-cooled resonant charging choke, and two PFN assemblies, each containing a 30-microfarad capacitor, an 1800-volt inverter-class SCR output switch, a pulse shaping inductor and a "simmer" supply to sustain the flashlamp discharge between pulses. Each PFN is mounted on a removable tray for easy service and maintenance.
© (1987) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
John L. Matilaine and Walter F. J. Crewson "Compact, Efficient, Solid-State Flashlamp Modulator", Proc. SPIE 0735, Pulse Power for Lasers, (18 May 1987); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.938048
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KEYWORDS
Modulators

Capacitors

Control systems

Transformers

Pulsed laser operation

Resistors

Switches

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