Low jitter laser triggered spark gap using fiber optic

Laser triggering of a pulse charged gas switch is described. The laser triggering results in low jitter switching relative to the timing of the laser pulse. A novel feature is the use of a single element, 1-mm, quartz, optical fiber to transmit the laser beam. The switch parameters, such as gas pressure, gas composition, and laser beam focal point location have been optimized to produce nanosecond delay and jitter with as little laser power as possible. The laser optical system has been optimized for best overall efficiency in a configuration suitable for illumination of many fibers by a single laser. Typical operating parameters for the switch are: 2 cm gap, 2500 Torr pressure, 50% Ar - 50% N2 gas mixture, and a charging voltage of 200 kV. Laser power in the gap is typically a few megawatts with an overall efficiency greater than 50% for the optical system.