Retrotech
nitrogen N2 laser
Sign dielectric replaced with overhead projector transparency (OPT). OPTs are thinner, so the capacitance is higher than the same area using the plastic sign. At first, I used sections of aluminum about 1 and 1/2" wide for the peaker (the OPT serving as the dielectric). The laser did not work at all, so I used a smaller section of aluminum (lower capacitance by way of reduced area) and the device lased. Finally, I removed the aluminum sections entirely and replaced them with a single 1/2" aluminum "L" profile, after which I saw a big improvment in the output. This was all done using a Leyden Jar made from a "Smart Balance Buttery Spread" plastic container as the dumper. This video features the results obtained using the narrow, 1/2 "L" profile, from which the peaker became defined. In conclusion, it appears that reducing the capacitance of the peaker was required to enable lasing and tweak performance. The peaker therefore appears to determine the speed of the discharge through the laser channel, making the role of the dumper much less demanding, as is illustrated through the use of an actual Leyden Jar capacitor. Area of the base coupling, between the outside of the Leyden Jar and the common plate, appears to be relatively insignificant, as represented through the use of a single wire lead.
nitrogen N2 laser
Sign dielectric replaced with overhead projector transparency (OPT). OPTs are thinner, so the capacitance is higher than the same area using the plastic sign. At first, I used sections of aluminum about 1 and 1/2" wide for the peaker (the OPT serving as the dielectric). The laser did not work at all, so I used a smaller section of aluminum (lower capacitance by way of reduced area) and the device lased. Finally, I removed the aluminum sections entirely and replaced them with a single 1/2" aluminum "L" profile, after which I saw a big improvment in the output. This was all done using a Leyden Jar made from a "Smart Balance Buttery Spread" plastic container as the dumper. This video features the results obtained using the narrow, 1/2 "L" profile, from which the peaker became defined. In conclusion, it appears that reducing the capacitance of the peaker was required to enable lasing and tweak performance. The peaker therefore appears to determine the speed of the discharge through the laser channel, making the role of the dumper much less demanding, as is illustrated through the use of an actual Leyden Jar capacitor. Area of the base coupling, between the outside of the Leyden Jar and the common plate, appears to be relatively insignificant, as represented through the use of a single wire lead.