Electromagnetic energy distributions for electromagnetically induced mechanical cutting

Abstract

Output optical energy pulses including relatively high energy magnitudes at the beginning of each pulse are disclosed. As a result of the relatively high energy magnitudes which lead each pulse, the leading edge of each pulse includes a relatively large slope. This slope is preferably greater than or equal to 5. Additionally, the full-width half-max value of the output optical energy distributions are between 0.025 and 250 microseconds and, more preferably, are about 70 microseconds. A flashlamp is used to drive the laser system, and a current is used to drive the flashlamp. A flashlamp current generating circuit includes a solid core inductor which has an inductance of 50 microhenries and a capacitor which has a capacitance of 50 microfarads.

1 . A flashlamp current generating circuit, comprising: 
 a solid core inductor having an inductance of about 50 microhenries;    a capacitor coupled to the inductor, the capacitor having a capacitance of 50 microfarads; and    a flashlamp coupled to the solid core inductor.    
     
     
         2 . A pulse for driving a flashlamp that is used as a stimulation source for a laser rod, comprising: 
 a leading edge having a slope which is greater than or equal to about 5, the slope being defined on a plot of the pulse as y over x (y/x) where y is current in amps and x is time in microseconds; and    a full-width half-max value in a range from 0.025 to 250 microseconds.    
     
     
         3 . The pulse for driving a flashlamp as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the full-width half-max value is in a range from 10 to 150 microseconds.  
     
     
         4 . The pulse for driving a flashlamp as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the full-width half-max value is about 70 microseconds.  
     
     
         5 . The pulse for driving a flashlamp as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the slope is greater than or equal to about 10.  
     
     
         6 . The pulse for driving a flashlamp as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the slope is greater than or equal to about 100.  
     
     
         7 . The pulse for driving a flashlamp as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the slope is about 240.  
     
     
         8 . A flashlamp current generating circuit, comprising: 
 an inductor having an inductance less than about 16 microhenries;    a capacitor coupled to the inductor, the capacitor having a capacitance of 50 microfarads; and    a flashlamp coupled to the inductor.    
     
     
         9 . The flashlamp current generating circuit as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the inductor comprises an inductance within a range of about 10 to 15 microhenries.