Technical papers
Technical notes and application notes for the Directed Energy laser diode drivers and high-voltage pulse generators, with the application briefs and notes on the same products published on berkeleynucleonics.com.
1Laser diode drivers
Connecting, setting and measuring the pulsed current drivers, and the applications they are built for.
| Type | Document | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Technical noteOctober 2026 | Connecting a fast current pulser to a laser diodeLoop inductance against compliance headroom: why stripline, how to adapt it to the diode, and the edge a given run allows. | ReadPDF |
| Technical noteOctober 2026 | Measuring pulsed laser diode current on the PCO-6131 and PCO-6141The PCA-9155 and PCA-9150 current monitors, the load and scope setup, and captures at 30, 60 and 125 A; PCO-7114 series for installed units. | ReadPDF |
| Technical noteOctober 2026 | Setting the PCO-6131 and PCO-6141 output currentThe I SET header, the CURRENT SET pot, the external setpoint input and the set monitor on J2, with the control ranges from the datasheets. | ReadPDF |
| Technical note | Driving Laser Diodes SafelyCompliance voltage, current limits, interlocks and the fault paths that cost a diode. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
| Application brief | Laser Diode and Array DrivingPulsed, QCW and CW drive for single emitters, bars and stacks. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
| Application brief | LiDAR and RangefindingShort pulses, fast edges and the driver choices behind range resolution. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
| Application brief | Directed-Energy and HEL SystemsHigh-current drive for high-energy laser programs. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
2High-voltage pulse generators
Specifying a pulser, shaping its edge, powering it from common-polarity supplies, and the capacitive loads it drives.
| Type | Document | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Technical noteOctober 2026 | What a voltage pulser is and how to specify oneWhat a pulser drives, how it works, the six specifications that matter and the line from 50 V to plus or minus 10 kV. | ReadPDF |
| Application noteBNC-AN-050 Rev A | Operating the PVX-4110, PVX-4130, PVX-4141 and PVX-4151 with common-polarity pulse and bias suppliesWhy the bias supply needs a current path to ground when both supplies share a polarity, and how to size the shunt resistor. | ReadPDF |
| Technical noteOctober 2026 | How Do I Slow the Rise Time of My Voltage Pulser?The series-resistor method for a slower edge: sizing, voltage rating, inductance and stacking, with a worked PVX-4110 example. | ReadPDFAlso on berkeleynucleonics.com |
| Technical note | Selecting an HV Pulse GeneratorLoad type, voltage, width, repetition rate and power: how to match a model to a load. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
| Technical note | Capacitive-Load PulsingI = C dV/dt and P = C V² F, the two relations behind every capacitive-load pulser specification. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
| Application brief | Pockels Cell and Q-Switch DrivingFast high-voltage edges into capacitive electro-optic elements. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
| Application brief | Time-of-Flight Mass SpectrometryExtraction grids and deflection plates, pulsed at kilovolts with nanosecond edges. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
| Application brief | Accelerators and Beam KickersPulsed deflection and gating in accelerator beamlines. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
| Application brief | Electro-Optic Modulation and GatingGating detectors, intensifiers and modulators with a clean voltage step. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
| Application brief | HV Test and Detector BiasingDielectric life testing and biasing detectors from a pulsed source. | Read on berkeleynucleonics.com |
3Further reading
The complete set of Directed Energy papers on berkeleynucleonics.com, with the briefs above and the Nuts and Bolts of High Power web book, is at High Voltage/Current Pulser documentation library. Datasheets and operating manuals for every model are on the Datasheets and Manuals page, and the FAQ answers the questions that come up most on the bench.
Talk to an applications engineer
Tell us your load, pulse width and repetition rate. We will point you at the right driver or pulser, or tell you plainly if we do not have one.