Fiber optic analog and timing monitoring system for the antares laser fusion program

The development and use of two optical fiber systems for the Antares 40 kJ CO/sub 2/ laser is described. In the Antares power amplifier, electron guns produce a discharge-sustaining B kA beam of 500 kV electrons. Eight 300 kJ, 3 ..mu..s Marx pulsers provide a direct electrical pumping discharge through the laser gas. The electro-optic systems developed allow the measurement of pulsed analog waveforms and trigger timing information within the laser and power systems by a computer based control and data acquisition network