Repository logo
 

Fast electronic driver for optical switches

dc.contributor.authorWoolston, Mark R., author
dc.contributor.authorRocca, Jorge J., advisor
dc.contributor.authorMarconi, Mario C., committee member
dc.contributor.authorMenoni, Carmen S., committee member
dc.contributor.authorYalin, Azer P., committee member
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T08:09:58Z
dc.date.available2013-06-01T08:10:42Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractElectronically controlled optical switches are critical components in many optical systems, including pulsed lasers. Solid-state optical switches based upon the Pockels effect are widely utilized in research and industry, however Pockels cells require electronic drivers capable of switching several kilovolts quickly and cleanly. This thesis reviews Pockels cell designs and their typical applications in laser systems, discusses common drive circuit topologies found in literature, and describes the development of a fast, stable electronic driver for half-wave congured Pockels cell optical switches. In a crowded optical environment, it is frequently desirable to locate the Pockels cell at some distance from the driver electronics. The driver was developed to be capable of 1.4 ns optical transition times when connected to a 6 pF Pockels cell via 1.2 meters of 50 ohm coaxial cable. The driver is designed to operate in colliding-pulse mode at 6-8 kV, with 80 ampere typical switch currents. Total switch propagation delay is less than 100 ns, and thermal drift has been measured at less than 50ps/C°. These pulsers are currently used to drive Pockels cells in colliding pulse mode in pulse picking and slicing applications where optical rise times of < 2 ns and low drift are needed. Novel non-invasive diagnostic techniques for measuring and graphing pulse propagation in a repeatable manner along collapsing avalanche transistor chains are presented.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierWoolston_colostate_0053N_10962.pdf
dc.identifierETDF2012500138ECEN
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/67552
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectavalanche
dc.subjectPockels
dc.subjectlaser
dc.subjecthigh voltage
dc.subjectelectro-optic
dc.subjectpulse
dc.titleFast electronic driver for optical switches
dc.typeText
dcterms.embargo.expires2013-06-01
dcterms.embargo.terms2013-06-01
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineElectrical and Computer Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Woolston_colostate_0053N_10962.pdf
Size:
1.59 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description: