An ultraviolet preionizer for high power gas lasers. The preionizer is a spark gap array or groups of arrays adapted to be fired preceeding the main discharge pulse of the laser. A fast energy dump to the spark array results in efficient ultraviolet light production. The spark gaps of an array are automatically fired in sequence providing a series current path through the gaps to dump the energy, while providing an electrical glow discharge at each gap for ultraviolet emission.
A laser excitation system is disclosed in which the laser medium is preionized by a UV-generating spark array and is excited by an electric avalanche discharge. The preionized state is sustained during the discharge by a second spark array and an isolated discharge capacitance. In this manner, a continuous ionization state during discharge is achieved.
