Single channel analog data links for use with high bandwidth recording systems for the National Ignition Facility.

The National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory requires high bandwidth and high dynamic range data transmission from the target chamber area to diagnostic recording equipment approximately 46 m away. The systems need to pass short pulse signals with high fidelity, requiring a broadband frequency response from below 10 MHz to greater than 6 GHz, that has flat amplitude and a linear phase response. We present here the characterization of a few selected fiber optic systems and work done to optimize the performance of a fiber link and single-shot transient digitizer system. Each link is evaluated by its bandwidth, the fidelity of its step response, the signal loss, and its usable dynamic range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]