Switching Jitter in Spark Gap Triggered by a TEM00-Mode Mode-Locked Ruby Laser

Abstract

The first study of jitter in a laser triggered spark gap switched by pulse trains from a mode‐locked ruby laser is described. The spark gap was fired by producing gas breakdown in a high pressure argon‐nitrogen mixture between the pole pieces. Jitter was measured as a function of the position of the lens used to focus the laser beam and as a function of the ratio of the applied voltage to the self‐breakdown voltage of the gap. Jitter values of less than 2 nsec were obtained under optimum conditions provided that the gap was fired by the early part of the pulse train.