High reliability low jitter pulse generator

1. An apparatus for generating pulses, said apparatus comprising:

a laser light source;

a voltage electrode disposed between ground electrodes;

laser spark gaps between said voltage electrode and said ground electrodes and within which laser sparks are generated by said laser light source; and

one or more insulated ground output connectors connected to said voltage electrode and via which pulses are generated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is axisymmetric.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein an on-axis laser beam activates said laser spark gaps.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising an isolating inductor supplied by two or more insulated ground connectors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a focal lens passing laser light to said laser spark gaps.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a focal lens length of said focal lens is between about 300 and 700 mm.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a thickness of said voltage electrode proximate said laser spark gaps is about 1 mm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein width of said laser spark gaps is about 7 mm.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a ferromagnetic blocking core.

10. The apparatus of 1 wherein said apparatus has less than about a 10 −4 misfire probability and about a 550 ps jitter or better.

11. A method for generating pulses, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a laser light source;

disposing a voltage electrode between ground electrodes;

generating laser sparks using the laser light source via laser spark gaps between the voltage electrode and the ground electrodes; and

outputting pulses via one or more insulated ground connectors connected to the voltage electrode.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the result of the method is axisymmetric.

13. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising activating the laser spark gaps with an on-axis laser beam.

14. The method of claim 11 additionally comprising supplying two or more insulated ground connectors with an isolating inductor.

15. The method of claim 11 additionally comprising passing laser light to the laser spark gaps via a focal lens.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein a focal lens length of the focal lens is between about 300 and 700 mm.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein a thickness of the voltage electrode proximate the laser spark gaps is about 1 mm.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein width of the laser spark gaps is about 7 mm.

19. The method of claim 11 additionally comprising providing a ferromagnetic blocking core.

20. The method of 11 wherein the method provides a less than about a 10 −4 misfire probability and about a 550 ps jitter or better.