Although it isn’t showing on the calender, yet, I have approval to lead a class in building a nitrogen laser. I’ve scheduled the first meeting for April 18, 1 P.M. to 4 P.M.
We have the well-known construction plans from “Light and Its Uses,” but I’d like to see if we could make something better than those 40 year-old plans. In particular, I’d like to redesign the power supply and switching circuits, to make them more compact and more precisely adjustable.
I’d appreciate it if someone could refer me to the high voltage components that could switch fast enough (<5 ns, >20kV, ~1 mA). Would someone like to help design a new nitrogen laser power supply with me?
I would like to work with you on building a nitrogen laser. I don’t know enough electronics to design a laser power supply but the 1974 Scientific American article says that the charging circuit is “grossly over-designed” so it would probably work okay as originally designed. The internet has several sources about building nitrogen lasers and they seem to like this original design. I bet further investigation on the internet will discover improvements that can be made.
I can fabricate the physical components of this laser.
I look forward to the 4/18 class. Feel free to let me know if there is anything I can do to prepare for it.
Thanks, amacha. I’ve wanted to build this laser since high school, but something has always happened that prevented me from doing it.
I need to source the parts and the nitrogen. I called the one acrylic supplier listed on the DMS list, and they quoted me $34 for a 6-foot tube. He’s trying to see if he can get me a smaller tube. I actually already have most of the required parts in my personal belongings, though I don’t know exactly where they are.
I’m also trying to set up a power supply class for this laser on 4/11, but I’m still short an approval.
I’m sure the old Sci. Am. plans would work, and maybe that’s what we will do for starters, but I would like to get a better circuit, and something that doesn’t expose so much high voltage material over such a large area.
When I wanted a high-voltage supply for Geiger tubes, I went for an integrated-circuit-based photoflash charger. Its reference circuit is based on a voltage divider, so I imagine it might be able to generate the required voltage, although the current is more of a question. Have a look at this, see if it suits.
Thanks, but the voltage is too low. I need 20 kV. It doesn’t say what it’s discharge rate is, but I suspect that is too slow, especially if it has anywhere near the same tau as the charging circuit.