INFLUENCE OF THE EXCITATION CIRCUITS ON THE CUBR LASER PERFORMANCE

A comparative study has been carried out of the output characteristics , electric parameters and main kinetic plasma processes concerning CuB r laser performance during the excitation pulse. Four electric circuit s were used for CuBr vapor laser excitation: WPC (without peaking capa citor); OC (ordinary circuit, i.e., with a peaking capacitor); IPC (in teracting peaking circuits), and IC. (interacting circuits). The calcu lated and experimental values are in very good agreement. The improvem ent of the CuBr laser performance from WPC- to IC-excitation (the lase r power and efficiency increase three times) is mainly attributed to t he increased physical laser efficiency, which concerns the electroopti c energy conversion with regard to plasma kinetic processes.