Photoconductive impulse generation and radiation

The generation of extremely narrow, high peak power pulses using an optically activated impulse generator is described. Radiative measurements at 1 Hz PRF have been conducted at pulse bias levels up to 15 kV, using an optical pulse from a Nd:YAG laser to trigger the device. The measured pulse from a wideband antenna has a pulsewidth of 1.5 ns with a risetime of 900 ps. The frequency spectrum of this radiated waveform ranged from 50 MHz to 1 GHz.<
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