Set (pair) of Nd:glass laser rod and matching size Xe flashlamp, new, vintage

Description

The pair consists of a silicate Nd:glass laser rod, 4.9 mm dia. x 70 mm length, and a linear pulsed Xe flashlamp of matching discharge size 5.0 mm dia x 75 mm length (picture #1). Both are new, never used, in perfect condition, manufactured around 80's. The laser rod is a research grade type, has about 2.0 % - 2.5 % neodymium oxide doping, good for free-running or for Q-switch operation. Its lateral surface is chemically etched to avoid lasing in non-collinear modes (whispering gallery modes), hence it appears with various reflections (picture #2). It has perfect optical quality, in bulk (picture #3) and at both ends (pictures #4 and #5). The flashlamp is type INP 5/75, made in former USSR (pictures #6 and #7). To be used with this type of laser rod, the repetition frequency is low, up to 1 Hz (water cooled) or 3-5 shots/minute, in air convection cooling. Total lamp length (with electrodes) 140 mm, its outer diameter is 6.7 mm. The electrodes look identical, but usually the vacuum "tip off" is located near the cathode (negative) electrode. The following are the nominal parameters from the lamp data sheet: min. working voltage 600 V; self-igniting voltage min. 2.5 kV; max. pulse energy 120 J for min. 10
5
pulses lifetime, and 340 J for min. 100 pulses lifetime; nominal working voltage 1.6 kV - 2.3 kV; energy-storage capacitor 90 - 130 uF (uF = microfarad); pulse duration (at 35% of peak) 90 us - 120 us (us = microsecond); max. repetition frequency 1.7 Hz; max. average electrical power 120 W (open air) or 200 W (with coolant); peak trigger voltage 15 kV - 20 kV (measured on 100 kiloohm load), or greater than 3 kV (measured on 1 kiloohm load); min. trigger pulse duration (at 10 % of peak) 1 us. Recommended external trigger (0.3 mm - 0.5 mm Ni wire wrapped on the flashtube by manufacturer). A max. of 200 J pumping energy is estimated for a reasonable (several thousand or tens of thousands) pulses. For Nd: glass laser a relatively longer pumping pulse is desirable, 250 us - 400 us, meaning a lower voltage (800 V - 900 V) and a higher capacitor value (400 uF - 500 uF) is better. Formulae to design the discharge circuit are given in the Catalogue Verre et Quartz, at: flashlamps-vq.com/CatalogueVQF.pdf, and at the course "Flashlamps power supplies and triggering" at http://pe2bz.philpem.me.uk/Lights/-%20Laser/Info-902-LaserCourse/c04-04/mod04_04.htm. A suggested operating regime would be: Max. pump energy 200 J; Capacitor 500uF; Max. charging voltage 900 V; Coil inductance: 20 uH; Resulting pulse duration (at 1/3 of amplitude) 300 us. Intended for a solid-state laser professional, hobbyist, or as a laser history collectible.