Low-jitter multigap laser-triggered switching at 50 pps

Results on the simultaneous initiation of four high-voltage spark gaps by a single moderate power laser system are presented. A
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-spoiled YAG laser irradiated each of four 50-kV spark gaps with 10-20 mJ energy in a 7-ns pulse full-wave at half maximum (FWHM) by use of simple beam-splitting techniques. Synchronization of ∼ 0.1 ns at repetition rates as high as 50 pps was demonstrated both on electrically well-isolated switches as well as on switches connected in parallel with less than 1-ns time isolation. A unique synchronization indicator is described for use as a performance diagnostic.