Study of electromagnetic interference from a high power copper vapor laser

The copper-vapor laser (CVL) is a high power pulsed-electric discharge pumped laser. The laser lases in copper vapor media By heating the copper pieces to evaporation temperature (/spl sim/1500 /spl deg/C), copper vapors are generated in the laser head. The thermal energy required for heating the copper metal to vaporization is supplied through the excitation pulse. The discharge excitation is at a rate between 2 to 20 kHz. A pulse power supply unit (PPSU) generates the high voltage pulse (electrical pulse having voltage of the order of 15 to 20 kV at 1 to 2 kA for duration of /spl sim/600 nS), which is obtained by using a resonant charging circuit. Thus the PPSU generates power of the order of Megawatt (/spl sim/20 MW). Hence the power supply unit along with the high voltage (HV) cable carrying the electrical pulse to the laser head is a source of electromagnetic interference (EMI). In addition the laser head where the discharge takes place is also a source of electromagnetic noise. The paper presents a study of electromagnetic interference from a high power copper vapor laser system.