Laser power supply?

[jvencius]

Is there anything special about the power supply for a laser or could I use a normal bench power supply to run one? I found one yesterday in a stack of stuff headed for the dump and figured I'd at least give it a minimal effort to work before tossing the thing. It's a JDS Uniphase .95mw He-Ne gas laser, if that matters...

 

[RenoF250]

Laser require high voltage ~1,200V if I remember right. You could try a fluorescent ballast but I would not give it great odds. If you look around you can probably find one surplus for cheap.

 

[bushpilot]

consider a H.I.D. igniter & balast...they generate about 15,000-18,000
volts to light those H.I.D. (gas) headlight bulbs.