Test stand for gas-discharge chamber of TEA CO2 lasers with pulse-periodical energy supply

Test stand for function optimization (incomposition of gas- dynamic circuit (GDC) of operating characteristics of full- size discharge chamber of flowing TEA carbon-dioxide lasers (power up to 100 kW) was created in Samara State Aerospace University (former Kuibyshev Aviation Institute). Test stand includes an inside-type GDC, low inductive generators of voltage pulses of preionization and main discharges, two-flow rate system of gas supply and noise immunity diagnostic system. Module construction of units of GDC, power supplies of preionization and main discharges allows to change configuration of stand's systems for providing given properties of gas flow and its energy supply. This test stand can also be used in servicing of laser system. The diagnostic system of this stand allows us to analyze energy properties of discharge by means of oscillographic measurements of voltage and current with following processing of discharges' volt- ampere characteristics by means of a computer; rate of non- stationary gas-dynamic disturbances in discharge gap of discharge chamber was measured by means of pulse holographic system (UlG-1M) with data processing of schliren- and interferogram (density fluctuation sensitivity approximately 10-2) and sensor measurement system of gas-dynamic shock and acoustics process with resonance frequency exceeding 100 kHz. Research results of process of plasma plate wave and channel structures interaction with mediums, including actuation non-stationary gas-dynamic flows, cavitation erosion of preionization electrodes' dielectric substructure, ancillary heating of channels by main volumetric discharge are presented as well.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.