Laser-triggered vacuum switch

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:867653

Brannon, Paul J ^[1]; Cowgill, Donald F ^[2]

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1. Albuquerque, NM
2. Danville, CA

A laser-triggered vacuum switch has a material such as a alkali metal halide on the cathode electrode for thermally activated field emission of electrons and ions upon interaction with a laser beam, the material being in contact with the cathode with a surface facing the discharge gap. The material is preferably a mixture of KCl and Ti powders. The laser may either shine directly on the material, preferably through a hole in the anode, or be directed to the material over a fiber optic cable.

• Research Organization: AT&T
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• Assignee: United States of American as epresented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4978893
• OSTI ID: 867653
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

laser-triggered
vacuum
switch
material
alkali
metal
halide
cathode
electrode
thermally
activated
field
emission
electrons
interaction
laser
beam
contact
surface
facing
discharge
gap
preferably
mixture
kcl
powders
shine
directly
anode
directed
fiber
optic
cable
thermally activated
fiber optic
alkali metal
laser beam
metal halide
field emission
cathode electrode
optic cable
vacuum switch
surface facing
laser-triggered vacuum
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