Geometry, contact, surface, and optical developments for photoconductive power switches
Photoconductive Power Switches (PCPSs) have the advantages of precise control, extremely fast closure times, extremely low inductances and scalability to very high voltages and currents. PCPSs have these advantages because the size or power of the switch is not related to its closure time. The closure time is determined by the external optical source that uniformly illuminates the PCPS between the electrodes. Because carriers are generated uniformly between the electrodes at the desired density, current can flow through the switch immediately without waiting for carrier transient delays. The operating voltage is determined by the switch length l, and the operating current is determined by the switch width w. The electrodes can be made as wide as desired so that the inductance can be extremely low, or the area available for heat removal can be increased and the entire switch brough into conduction at the same instant if the same optical pulse and path length are used. This paper describes recent research at Los Alamos that has improved PCPS contact fabrication technology, has developed a simple optical control illumination system using fiber optics and rectangular optics, and has improved photoconductor surface fabrication methods and processes for high electric field operation.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 7021574
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-84-1962; CONF-8406137-9; ON: DE84014036
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 16. power modulator symposium, Arlington, VA, USA, 17 Jun 1984; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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