Versatile high power pulse-laser source for pico- and nanosecond optical pulses

Abstract

This paper presents a pulse-laser source for the generation of ps and ns laser pulses with more than 50 W peak output power. The final stages of the drivers use GaN transistors and are capable of switching currents of 0.8 A with 200 ps minimum pulse width and 50 A with 3 ns minimum pulse width. The pulses can be externally triggered by ECL logic. Both single-pulse and pulse train modes are possible.