I am a bit of a sucker for deals on cool stuff to tinker with even if I don't have an immediate use in mind, so obviously I couldn't pass up a $60 Quanta Ray when it showed up at a nearby surplus auction. Apparently all it takes to make big lasers appear is for me to clear some space in my garage for them to immediately occupy...and yes, it did all fit in the Element!
I can't find the battery for my good camera but did get some crappy cell pics in the meantime:
I don't plan on attempting to run it for a while (until I have a proper lab room with power/water + door interlocks, hopefully later this fall), so is there anything I should check/do now before it is stored for a few months? It is a 10Hz Quanta Ray DCR-3, and the previous owners at UVA did drain the cooling water before selling it.
I'm fully aware of the electrical and optical dangers these beasts pose, and definitely don't plan on firing it up until it can be done safely (and ideally with another more experienced operator present). I've messed with more than my fair share of excessive voltages/large caps before as well as a couple smaller flashlamp pumped YAGs and dye lasers, but never thought I'd stumble across one of my own! I guess I don't need that "My other laser is on the death star" sticker anymore