Influence of the switch parameters on the performance characteristics of a copper vapour laser

Analysis of the circuits for exciting the active medium of a copper vapour laser (CVL) has shown that the main factors limiting the mean output power of the CVL are the cathode emissive power of an electron tube and the permissible current rise rate in a thyratron switch. The laser operation reliability and the thyratron service life are determined by the reverse voltage across the thyratron anode. The service life of a TGI1-1000/25 thyratron in a CVL corresponds to its certified value, if the reverse voltage at the thyratron anode is within 3 kV.