EP0073695A1 - Method and apparatus to excite a flashlight - Google Patents

Method and apparatus to excite a flashlight Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0073695A1
EP0073695A1 EP82401386A EP82401386A EP0073695A1 EP 0073695 A1 EP0073695 A1 EP 0073695A1 EP 82401386 A EP82401386 A EP 82401386A EP 82401386 A EP82401386 A EP 82401386A EP 0073695 A1 EP0073695 A1 EP 0073695A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flash tube
source
capacitor
radiation
flashlight
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP82401386A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Louis Jacob
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Original Assignee
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA filed Critical Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
Publication of EP0073695A1 publication Critical patent/EP0073695A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/30—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by pulses, e.g. flash lamp

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and a device for exciting a flash tube. It finds an application in the optical pumping of lasers.
  • a parallel tripping circuit has the disadvantage of requiring a winding wound around the flash tube or arranged in the vicinity thereof. This winding disturbs the optical elements which are located in the immediate vicinity of the flash tube.
  • the electrical control pulse may cause microfractures in the tube.
  • the object of the present invention is precisely to avoid these drawbacks.
  • the device represented in FIG. 1 comprises a capacitor 10, a source 12 of direct voltage connected to the capacitor by a resistor 14 and a coaxial line 16 connecting the capacitor 10 to a flash tube 18.
  • a means 20 which according to the invention comprises a source 22 of radiation 24.
  • This source may for example be an ultraviolet source. It is supplied by means 26.
  • the radiation 24 emitted by the source 22 is directed towards the flash tube 18 (if necessary by suitable optics not shown).
  • a radiation source which is very suitable for this application is the mercury vapor lamp.
  • the supply circuit 26 of the lamp 22 can be constituted by a continuous or pulsed supply.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a possible application of the invention to the production of a high power solid-state laser.
  • This laser comprises a rod of doped glass 30 surrounded by a transparent glass sheath 32, and six flash tubes 34. Each tube is associated with a reflector 36, which is pierced with a slot 38 which allows the passage of radiation coming from a lamp 40, in particular from ultraviolet radiation.
  • an electrical triggering device of the kind mentioned above.
  • the optical radiation is applied before or during the control of the electrical triggering means.
  • the action of the second means is facilitated by the means of the invention.
  • the mechanism by which the optical radiation passing through the flash tube causes or promotes the initiation of the discharge therein is not completely understood, it may be thought that the gas is the site of a partial photoionization which gives rise to electrons, which are responsible for initiating the discharge.

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  • Discharge-Lamp Control Circuits And Pulse- Feed Circuits (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)

Abstract

According to the invention, a firing of the discharge in a flashlight (18) is obtained by means of a source (22) of radiation (24). Application to the optical pumping of lasers. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention a pour objet un procédé et un dispositif d'excitation d'un tube éclair. Elle trouve une application dans le pompage optique des lasers.The present invention relates to a method and a device for exciting a flash tube. It finds an application in the optical pumping of lasers.

Dans le but d'améliorer les conditions d'excitation des tubes éclairs utilisés pour le pompage optique des lasers, il a déjà été proposé, pour amorcer la décharge, d'utiliser un circuit de déclenchement auxiliaire appelé "trigger". Ce circuit est du type parallèle ou série.In order to improve the excitation conditions of the flash tubes used for the optical pumping of lasers, it has already been proposed, to initiate the discharge, to use an auxiliary trigger circuit called "trigger". This circuit is of the parallel or series type.

L'emploi d'un circuit de déclenchement parallèle présente l'inconvénient de nécessiter un enroulement bobiné autour du tube éclair ou disposé au voisinage de celui-ci. Cet enroulement perturbe les éléments d'optique qui sont situés à proximité immédiate du tube éclair. En outre l'impulsion électrique de commande risque de provoquer des microfractures dans le tube.The use of a parallel tripping circuit has the disadvantage of requiring a winding wound around the flash tube or arranged in the vicinity thereof. This winding disturbs the optical elements which are located in the immediate vicinity of the flash tube. In addition, the electrical control pulse may cause microfractures in the tube.

Quant à la technique du montage série, elle nécessite une tension importante obtenue par un transformateur qui a nécessairement une inductance considérable.As for the series mounting technique, it requires a large voltage obtained by a transformer which necessarily has a considerable inductance.

La présente invention a justement pour but d'éviter ces inconvénients.The object of the present invention is precisely to avoid these drawbacks.

A cette fin, elle propose un procédé et un dispositif qui permettent l'amorçage d'un tube éclair sans modification ni du tube éclair ni du circuit d'alimentation. Ce résultat est obtenu par l'utilisation d'une sour.ce de rayonnement optique, lequel est dirigé à travers le tube éclair.To this end, it proposes a method and a device which allow the priming of a flash tube without modification either of the flash tube or of the supply circuit. This is achieved by the use of an optical radiation source, which is directed through the flash tube.

Les caractéristiques de l'invention appa- raitront mieux après la description qui suit d'un exemple de réalisation donné à titre illustratif et nullement limitatif. Cette description se réfère à des dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • - la figure 1 est un schéma de principe du dispositif de l'invention,
  • - la figure 2 illustre un exemple d'appli- . cation de l'invention.
The characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly after the following description of an exemplary embodiment given by way of illustration and in no way limiting. This description refers to attached drawings in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the device of the invention,
  • - Figure 2 illustrates an example of application. cation of the invention.

Le dispositif représenté sur la figure 1 comprend un condensateur 10, une source 12 de tension continue reliée au condensateur par une résistance 14 et une ligne coaxiale 16 reliant le condensateur 10 à un tube éclair 18. Pour amorcer la décharge du condensateur 10 à travers le tube éclair 18, il est prévu un moyen 20 qui comprend selon l'invention une source 22 de rayonnement 24. Cette source peut être par exemple une source ultraviolette. Elle est alimentée par un moyen 26. Le rayonnement 24 émis par la source 22 est dirigé vers le tube éclair 18 (au besoin par une optique appropriée non représentée).The device represented in FIG. 1 comprises a capacitor 10, a source 12 of direct voltage connected to the capacitor by a resistor 14 and a coaxial line 16 connecting the capacitor 10 to a flash tube 18. To initiate the discharge of the capacitor 10 through the flash tube 18, there is provided a means 20 which according to the invention comprises a source 22 of radiation 24. This source may for example be an ultraviolet source. It is supplied by means 26. The radiation 24 emitted by the source 22 is directed towards the flash tube 18 (if necessary by suitable optics not shown).

A titre explicatif, il peut être indiqué que pour un tube éclair de diamètre interne voisin de 15 mm rempli de xénon une source de rayonnement qui convient bien à cette application est la lampe à vapeur de mercure.By way of explanation, it may be indicated that for a flash tube with an internal diameter close to 15 mm filled with xenon, a radiation source which is very suitable for this application is the mercury vapor lamp.

Le circuit d'alimentation 26 de la lampe 22 peut être constitué par une alimentation continue ou pulsée.The supply circuit 26 of the lamp 22 can be constituted by a continuous or pulsed supply.

La figure 2 illustre une application possible de l'invention à la réalisation d'un laser à solide de forte puissance. Ce laser comprend un barreau de verre dopé 30 entouré d'une gaine de verre transparent 32, et six tubes éclairs 34. Chaque tube est associé à un réflecteur 36, qui est percé d'une fente 38 qui permet le passage d'un rayonnement provenant d'une lampe 40, notamment d'un rayonnement ultraviolet.FIG. 2 illustrates a possible application of the invention to the production of a high power solid-state laser. This laser comprises a rod of doped glass 30 surrounded by a transparent glass sheath 32, and six flash tubes 34. Each tube is associated with a reflector 36, which is pierced with a slot 38 which allows the passage of radiation coming from a lamp 40, in particular from ultraviolet radiation.

Naturellement, il est possible d'utiliser conjointement avec les moyens qui viennent d'être décrits, un dispositif de déclenchement électrique du genre de ceux qui ont été évoqués plus haut. Dans ce cas, le rayonnement optique est appliqué avant ou pendant la commande du moyen de déclenchement électrique. L'action du second moyen se trouve facilitée par le moyen de l'invention.Naturally, it is possible to use in conjunction with the means which have just been described. crits, an electrical triggering device of the kind mentioned above. In this case, the optical radiation is applied before or during the control of the electrical triggering means. The action of the second means is facilitated by the means of the invention.

Bien que le mécanisme par lequel le rayonnement optique traversant le tube éclair provoque ou favorise l'amorçage de la décharge dans celui-ci ne soit pas complètement élucidé, on peut penser que le gaz est le siège d'une photoionisation partielle qui donne naissance à des électrons, lesquels sont à l'origine de l'amorçage de la décharge.Although the mechanism by which the optical radiation passing through the flash tube causes or promotes the initiation of the discharge therein is not completely understood, it may be thought that the gas is the site of a partial photoionization which gives rise to electrons, which are responsible for initiating the discharge.

Claims (5)

1. Procédé d'excitation d'un tube éclair consistant à charger un condensateur sous une tension continue puis à décharger ce condensateur dans ledit tube éclair, caractérisé en ce qu'on illumine le tube éclair par un rayonnement optique avant de décharger le condensateur.1. A method of excitation of a flash tube consisting in charging a capacitor under a DC voltage and then discharging this capacitor in said flash tube, characterized in that the flash tube is illuminated by optical radiation before discharging the capacitor. 2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'on utilise un rayonnement ultraviolet.2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that an ultraviolet radiation is used. 3. Dispositif d'excitation d'un tube éclair mettant en oeuvre le procédé de la revendication 1, ce dispositif comprenant un condensateur (10), une source de tension continue (12) reliée à ce condensateur, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un moyen supplémentaire (20) constitué par une source (22) de rayonnement optique, ledit rayonnement (24) étant dirigé à travers le tube éclair.3. Device for excitation of a flash tube implementing the method of claim 1, this device comprising a capacitor (10), a DC voltage source (12) connected to this capacitor, characterized in that it comprises additional means (20) consisting of a source (22) of optical radiation, said radiation (24) being directed through the flash tube. 4. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que la source (22) est une source de rayonnement ultraviolet.4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the source (22) is a source of ultraviolet radiation. 5. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre un moyen de déclenchement électrique.5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises an electric tripping means.
EP82401386A 1981-08-03 1982-07-27 Method and apparatus to excite a flashlight Withdrawn EP0073695A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8115033A FR2510858A1 (en) 1981-08-03 1981-08-03 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EXCITATION OF A LIGHT TUBE
FR8115033 1981-08-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0073695A1 true EP0073695A1 (en) 1983-03-09

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP82401386A Withdrawn EP0073695A1 (en) 1981-08-03 1982-07-27 Method and apparatus to excite a flashlight

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EP (1) EP0073695A1 (en)
JP (1) JPS5838496A (en)
FR (1) FR2510858A1 (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4246513A (en) * 1978-01-26 1981-01-20 Eastman Kodak Company Flash lamp discharge using radiant energy

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4246513A (en) * 1978-01-26 1981-01-20 Eastman Kodak Company Flash lamp discharge using radiant energy

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5838496A (en) 1983-03-05
FR2510858A1 (en) 1983-02-04
FR2510858B1 (en) 1984-09-28

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Inventor name: JACOB, LOUIS