A variable nano-second pulse duration laser pulse slicer based on high-voltage avalanche transistor switch

A laser pulse slicer has been set up using avalanche transistor Murx-bank high-voltage nanosecond step pulse generators. This can provide single short-duration laser pulse- variable from 4 m 10 a few tens of nanoseconds by simply changing a cable delay. Optical configuration and electrical Circuits involved and the performance characterstics of the pulse slicer are described. A sliced laser pulse of 4 ns (FWHM) is obtained with an energy transmission of 14% from an input laser pulse of 28 os (FWHM). An intensity contrast ratio of 1200 is achieved between the peak and any prepulse