Transmission line based energy recovery circuits and their application in copper vapor laser systems

Energy recovery of narrow, high power pulses based on loss free resistor topology is described. A novel regenerative snubber realization based on transmission lines is presented. The purpose of this snubber is to recycle high voltage, high power (up to 20 kV 1 MW) parasite pulses which arise in a copper vapor laser. These pulses consume up to 40% of the total power of the system. Currently, a low voltage (170 V) circuit of this type has been constructed and operated at recycling efficiency up to 85%.<
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