Repetitively pulsable traveling wave laser

A repetitively pulsing, traveling wave laser comprising

• a laser medium;
• an elongated discharge channel containing the laser medium having first and second spaced electrode means extending longitudinally of the channel, the channel having first and second ends;
• a plurality of discrete pulse transmission lines each having first and second conductors, one end of each transmission line being coupled to the electrodes at intervals spaced from the first end to the second end, the first conductor of each pair being coupled to the first electrode and the second being coupled to the opposed portion of the second electrode;
• pulse means coupled to the other ends of the transmissions lines for simultaneously applying each of a series of electrical pulses to the other ends of the transmission lines such that each electrical pulse propagates along the transmission lines and discharges between the adjacent portions of the electrodes;
• the transmission lines successively coupled to the electrode from the first to the second ends having progressively longer effective transmissions lengths for applying the electrical pulses to successive points along the length of the channel in sequence with the passage of light from the first to the second end through the channel.

A traveling wave laser comprising an elongated discharge channel containing a laser medium and having a wave initiating end and a wave output end and a pair of spaced electrodes extending longitudinally of the channel;

• pulse means for repetitively producing a localized electrical pulse including a controllable breakdown device;
• a plurality of discrete pulse transmission lines of progressively greater lengths coupling the pulse means to the discharge channel at spaced points extending from the initiating end to the output end for sequentially applying each pulse to the spaced points along the discharge channel in advance of a coherent electromagnet wave propagating through the discharge channel from the initiating end to the output end;
• each discrete transmission line comprising a primary conductor, a shield conductor and a center conductor disposed between and capacitively coupled to the primary conductor and the shield conductor, one end of the primary conductor being direct current connected to one of the electrodes, the corresponding one end of the shield conductor being direct current connected to the other electrode, and the corresponding one end of the center conductor being open to direct current, the shield conductor being connected to ground, the other end of the primary conductor being connected by a resistance to ground, the other end of the center conductor being connected to a voltage supply, and the breakdown device being connected to simultaneously short the other ends of all of the primary conductors to the other ends of all of the center conductors.