Performance of an Advanced Repetitively Pulsed Electron Beam Pumped KrF Laser Driver

Electra is a repetitively pulsed, electron beam pumped krypton fluoride (KrF) gas laser that is a step in developing the technologies that meet the Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) requirements for durability, efficiency, repetition rate, and cost. The technologies to be developed in the Electra system are to be directly scalable to a full size fusion power plant beam line. We have fielded an advanced pulsed power driver for the KrF preamplifier in the Electra system which serves two roles: it completes the laser system and serves as a demonstrator for the advanced pulse power topology that can meet the IFE requirements. The initial system employs a gas switched Marx with improved reliability and maintenance schedule. The Marx will later be retrofitted (circa 2006) with advanced solid state switches, presently un Prepared in collaboration with Leland Schlitt Consulting Services, WTP Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Science Applications International Corp., Commonwealth Technology Inc, and Research Support Instruments. Presented at 2005 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference in Monterey CA on 13-17 Jun 2005 and published in proceedings of the same, p1290-1293; 0-7803-9189-6/05. See also ADM002371, 2013 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, Digest of Technical Papers 1976-2013, and Abstracts of the 2013 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science.