Pulse power generating circuit with energy recovery

A method of generating pulse power, comprising the steps of:

• storing a charge in a capacitor;
• periodically applying the charge stored as an input to a magnetic pulse compressor circuit having at least one stage, said at least one stage comprising a capacitor and a saturable inductor;
• providing a biasing circuit for encouraging the inductor of the at least one stage into reverse saturation;
• providing a forward current output pulse in response to the input, said compressor circuit also maintaining a forward current while resonantly providing a reverse charge that is reflected from a load coupled to said magnetic pulse compressor circuit;
• recovering said reverse charge by inverting said reverse charge to obtain an inverted charge;
• and
• providing said inverted charge to said capacitor during a next pulse.

A high-voltage pulse power laser system, comprising:

• a power source for supplying a charge;
• a capacitor for storing said charge;
• a magnetic pulse compressor circuit having at least one stage, said at least one stage comprising a capacitor and a saturable inductor;
• a biasing circuit for encouraging the inductor of the at least one stage into reverse saturation;
• a solid state switch coupled at one end to said capacitor and at a second end to said magnetic pulse compression circuit, for periodically applying the charge stored in said capacitor as an input to said compressor circuit, the compressor circuit providing a forward current output pulse in response to the input, said compressor circuit also maintaining a forward current while resonantly providing a reverse charge that is reflected from a load coupled to said magnetic pulse compressor circuit;
• a laser coupled to said magnetic pulse compressor circuit, said laser receiving said output pulse;
• and
• an inverting circuit coupled in parallel with said capacitor for storing and inverting said reverse charge to obtain an inverted charge, said inverting circuit also providing said inverted charge to said capacitor through said switch.

A high voltage pulse power laser system comprising:

• a power source;
• a pulse compressor circuit having a solid state switch coupled to said power source, said pulse compressor circuit also having at least one stage, said at least one stage comprising a capacitor and a saturable inductor;
• a biasing circuit for encouraging the inductor of the at least one stage into reverse saturation;
• and
• a laser coupled to the output of said pulse compressor circuit;
• said pulse compressor circuit providing compressed power to said laser in response to power input from said power source through the solid state switch, said compressor circuit providing a forward current output pulse in response to the power input, said compressor circuit also maintaining a forward current while resonantly recovering energy not used in said laser by reversing the unused energy and returning the recovered energy to said power source.

A method of recovering energy in a laser system, comprising the steps of:

• periodically applying a charge as an input to a pulse compressor circuit having at least one stage, said at least one stage comprising a capacitor and a saturable inductor;
• providing a biasing circuit for encouraging the inductor of the at least one stage into reverse saturation;
• providing a forward current output pulse to said laser system in response to the input, said compressor circuit maintaining a forward current while resonantly providing a reverse charge that is reflected by said laser system;
• recovering said reverse charge by inverting said reverse charge to obtain an inverted charge;
• and
• providing said inverted charge as part of the input to said compressor circuit in a next output pulse.

A high voltage pulse power laser system comprising:

• a power source;
• a capacitor for storing a charge;
• a pulse compressor circuit having a solid state switch coupled to said power source, said pulse compressor circuit also having at least one stage, said at least one stage comprising a capacitor and a saturable inductor;
• a biasing circuit for encouraging the inductor of the at least one stage into reverse saturation;
• a pulse discharge laser coupled to the output of said pulse compressor circuit;
• and
• an inverting circuit coupled in parallel with said capacitor for storing and inverting a reverse charge that is reflected by said pulse discharge laser;
• said pulse compressor circuit consistently providing forward current compressed power to said laser without missed pulses in response to power input from said power source through the solid state switch, said pulse compressor circuit maintaining a forward current while resonantly providing a reverse charge which is reflected from the pulse discharge laser.