Compact 5 x 10-12 AMP/SEC rail-gun pulser for a laser plasma shutter

A rail-gun plasma source that produces a plasma of (10 to the 12th power)/cu cm particle density and projects it with a velocity of 3.9 cm/microsec was developed. The device will be used in an output spatial filter to project a critical density plasma across an optical beam path and block laser retroreflected light. The design of pulser appropriate to the laser fusion facility and the preliminary design of a higher current prototype pulser for the laser fusion research facility are described.