Generation of two synchronized high-voltage discharges at a 200-Hz rep
etition rate by rotating a suitably configured circular dielectric pla
te between two pairs of spark gap electrodes is reported. The delay be
tween the discharges could be varied from less than a microsecond to m
ore than a millisecond by locating the electrodes of the spark gaps ju
diciously with respect to the passing holes oi the dielectric plate. T
he performance of the device has been tested by switching a total of 2
.5 kW power on two identical dummy loads resembling a typical transver
sely excited (TE) laser in terms of resistance. Operation of the switc
h in the triggered mode has been achieved by use oi an optical sensor.
The test on a Peal transversely excited atmosphere (TEA) CO2 laser lo
ad was limited to a 50-Hz repetition rate. inadequate cooling of the l
aser gas mixture and the accumulation of discharge products led to arc
ing beyond this pulse repetition frequency. (C) 1997 Society of Photo-
Optical Instrumentation Engineers.