Skip to content 
+48 576 425-292
QBD-series Pockels cell drivers
Applications
- Q-switching
Features
- Push-up or pull-down modifications (fixed)
- Up to 6 kV output voltage
- Up to 100 kHz repetition rate
- < 20 ns rise time or < 20 ns fall time (leading edge)
Download manual (800 kB)The QBD-series consists of several Pockels cell Q-switch driver circuit boards that differ in output voltage range (up to 6.0 kV bipolar) and operating scheme (see also How to order? section). Please note that in a bipolar device, the output pulse voltage U is formed by applying +U/2 to the positive output wire and –U/2 to the negative.
The QBD-series is specially designed to control Pockels cells by applying fast-switching high voltage. The modules require a +24 V DC power supply and a pulse generator to set the operating frequency. The output voltage level can be programmed within the working range by the user either manually (through onboard configuration trimpot) or remotely (by applying a DC voltage to the respective pin).
There are two possible modifications of the output signal type:
- Push-up (= normally off scheme): the base voltage level equals to zero.
- Pull-down (= normally on scheme): pulses are generated from base bias voltage to ground.
The desired option should be chosen at the time of ordering and cannot be changed by the user.
The QBD-series is based on MOSFET technology and offers high repetition rates and fast transition time for the leading pulse edge. The recovery time of the QBD Q-switch driver is relatively long (5‑10 μs for the trailing pulse edge vs < 20 ns for the QBU).
Performance
The table below contains the maximum repetition rate in dependence on output voltage and cooling conditions. Other setup parameters: the total load capacitance 11 pF, the ambient temperature 25 °C.
| Output voltage, kV | Repetition rate, kHz (convective cooling) | Repetition rate, kHz (appropriate forced-air cooling) |
| 2.0 | > 40 | > 115 |
| 2.5 | > 25 | > 80 |
| 3.0 | > 18 | > 60 |
| 3.5 | > 13 | > 45 |
| 4.0 | > 10 | > 35 |
| 4.5 | > 8 | > 30 |
| 5.0 | > 6 | > 25 |
| 6.0 | > 5 | > 15 |
(*) Values are approximate; exact performance depends on actual load capacitance and cooling conditions.
In burst mode (i.e. for short-term operation), performance approximately doubles and can exceed 100 kHz at low operating voltages and low load capacitances.
Performance decreases with higher load capacitance.
You may also be interested in other Q-switch driver models:
| Compact driver, up to 4 kV | Encased driver | Driver with fast rise and fall |
 |  |  |