HIGH ENERGY, SHORT DURATION PULSE SYSTEM

HIGH ENERGY, SHORT DURATION PULSE SYSTEM A system for switching a high energy, short duration pulse from a high energy source to an impedance matched series load. A light activated semiconductor device having a rectifying function is serially connected between the source and the load, and another light activated semiconductor device is connected in parallel across the load. A fast rise time laser light source sequentially activates the series connected device to initiate the energy pulse, and then actuates the device paralleled across the load to short circuit the load and terminate the energy pulse.