Journal of Wireless Communications 2 (1): 1-6, 2017 sispress.org/journals/jowc ISSN: 2377-3308 http://dx.doi.org/10.21174/jowc.v2i1.75 1 A Modified Approach for the Blumlein-line Laser Power Calculations: Electrical and Optical Power Waveforms Mohamed O. Twati * , Abubaker B. Otman † Electrical Engineering Department, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya Abstract— In this paper, a modified approach for output power calculations of the nitrogen laser system is reported. The power calculation is based on the distributed parameter model of the Blumlein-line circuit along with the decoupling approach of the laser rate equation from the electrical circuit equations. The general laser power assumption is considered in calculating the output optical power. The effect of the laser gap inductance on both the electrical and optical power waveforms is simulated and discussed. The theoretical work presented here is quite general and could be applied to many other fast discharges laser systems, such as CO 2 and copper vapor lasers. Keywords— Blumlein-line; Fast discharge laser; Nitrogen laser; Power calculations. I. INTRODUCTION Nitrogen lasers are important because they can provide high-power short-duration pulses of ultraviolet radiation (λ = 337.1 nm). These lasers are widely used in spectroscopy and fluorescence studies, pumping of dye lasers and other research and industrial applications. The performance of the nitrogen laser is basically determined by the type of electrical system used to create the discharge in the gas. Many excitation schemes were employed for pumping nitrogen lasers, however, the Blumlein transverse excitation method has become very popular, because of its low cost and ease of construction [1–7]. The Blumlein-line pulse-forming network consists of two parallel plate transmission lines (or coaxial cables) acting as energy storage capacitors, located at both sides of the cavity charged to high voltage Vo. When one side is short circuited, for instance using a spark gap, a transient voltage occurs across the laser cavity creating a gas discharge between the electrodes. The spark gap and the laser gap are usually represented by resistances and inductances. Depending on the relevant time constants of the spark gap and laser gap, and the wave propagation time on the transmission line, two concepts can be used in the analysis of the Blumlein-line circuit, the lumped parameter model (LPM) and the distributed parameter model (DPM). From a theoretical point of view, LPM offers the advantage of a much simpler analysis over the DPM. However, it has the disadvantage of being valid only when the relevant time constants of the spark and laser gap are much larger than the wave propagation time on the transmission line [8]. In spite of extensive studies and investigations that have been made so far for understanding the performance of -lasers based Blumlein-line pulse forming network, still extra research work has to be made in this connection. This includes the selection of more accurate circuit models for simulating the laser system and also includes the effects of the electrical parameters on the overall laser performance. The Laser is a highly integrated electro-optical system and the prediction of the behavior of laser requires a complicated comprehensive theory. The theory must include the electric circuit parameters, the * Corresponding author can be contacted via the journal website. † Deceased 3 October 2016.