HVR-Drive™ Pockels Cell Driver
Designed to switch Pockels cells used for pulse management in high repetition rate ultrafast laser regenerative amplifiers.
Full Product Description- Pulse amplitude:
- Min: 1.0 kV, Max: 7.5 kV
- Rise/fall time:
- Min: 10 ns, Max: 15 ns
Product description
The HVR-Drive from G&H is designed to switch Pockels cells used for pulse management in high repetition rate ultrafast laser regenerative amplifiers. This driver has a repetition rate from 0–200 kHz, an output voltage of 0–7.5 kV, rise and fall times of 10–15 ns with pulse widths of 100 ns–5 μs. The driver produces a top-hat waveform with fast-rising and falling edges.
Heat load and space requirements are at a minimum due to the use of external power supplies and control electronics.
The HVR-Drive measures 136.5x178x70 mm (5.375x7.0x2.8”) with the standard heat sink for convection cooling. It can also be air-cooled or water-cooled for higher repetition rates.
Key features
- 0–200 kHz repetition rate pulses
- 1.0–7.5 kV output voltage
- 10–15 ns rise and fall times
- 100 ns–5 μs pulse widths
- Bipolar balanced output
Specifications
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Low voltage supply | Min: 21.0 VDC, Max: 28.0 VDC |
| Low voltage supply: 200 kHz rep rate | Max: 300 mA |
| 2 x high voltage supplies | Max: 200 mA (For 7.5kV out, external ± 1875 VDC required¹) |
| On/Off trigger voltage | Min: 4 V, Max: 15 V, Normally 5 V, TTL |
| Trigger to output delay (5 V trigger) | Min: 60 ns, Max: 50 ns |
| ON/OFF trigger separation (determines output pulse width) | Min: 100 ns, Max: 5000 ns |
| Trigger pulse width (Actual ON or OFF pulse) | Min: 50 ns, Max: 100 ns |
| Jitter, trigger to output | Max: 50 ps (2 ns trigger rise time) |
| Repetition rate | Max: 100 kHz (7.5 kV, 10 pF, water cooled²), Max: 150 kHz (6.0 kV, 10 pF, water cooled), Max: 200 kHz (5.0 kV, 10 pF, water cooled), |
| Duty cycle | Ratio of pulse width to period (1/frequency): 20 % |
| Pulse amplitude | Min: 1.0 kV, Max: 7.5 kV |
| Rise/fall time | Min: 10 ns, Max: 15 ns |
| Operating ambient | Min: 0 °C, Max: 50 °C |
Notes
Two external high voltage power supplies are required; one positive output, one negative output.
For example, to achieve 6 kV output you will need ±1500 VDC input.
¹ High voltage current requirements are determined by the pulse width and repetition rate.
Rise and fall times vary with output voltage and rep rate; higher voltages produce longer rise and fall times.
² Convection cooled, the maximum rep rate is 25 kHz @ 7.5 kV, 37.5 kHz @ 6 kV and 50 kHz @ 5 kV.
Water cooled with optional cold plate. Chiller set to 24°C, flow rate to 1.0 gal/minute (4 liter/min) nominal.
Cautions
Do not connect the outputs to ground or damage to the driver will occur.
The low voltage supply must be on before applying the high voltage inputs.
DO NOT exceed a 20% duty cycle (ratio of pulse ON time to pulse OFF time).
The On/Off triggers must not overlap or damage to the driver will occur (minimum separation is 100 ns).