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Abstract

This thesis is concerned with the development of an ultra-fast pockels cell and electrical switch which are used to generate short optical pulses. These picosecond pulses are then used to investigate the pulse length dependence of inclusion damage in amonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) and potassium dideutrium phosphate (KD*P).

An electrical switch in the form of a laser triggered spark gap (LTSG) has been developed which generates two identical voltage steps of 180ps risetime into two separate 50ohm cables with immeasurable jitter. The optimization of the pressure voltage characteristics of the spark gap has been achieved to give the minimum possible risetime.

An ultra-fast pockels cell with Tips electrical risetime has been developed which when used in conjunction with the LTSG produces optical pulses of 250ps half width. Using pulse lengths ranging from 20ns to 300ps the pulse length dependence of inclusion damage threshold has been found for ADP and KD*P, These tendencies have been used together with the extension of an existing theory to determine the possible composition of inclusions responsible for damage.

A technique of analysis has been developed to determine the volume density of inclusions responsible for damage at a particular pulse length.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	T Technology > T Technology (General) T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
Departments:	School of Science & Technology > Department of Engineering School of Science & Technology > School of Science & Technology Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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