Triggered vacuum flashover switch for high-power applications
- Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC (USA)
- SAIC, 1247-B North Eglan Parkway, Shalimar, Florida (USA)
- Jaycor, 1608 Springhill Road, Vienna, Virginia (USA)
- SFA Incorporated, 1401 McCormick Drive, Landover, Maryland (USA)
A command triggered, high-power, surface-flashover closing switch that operates in vacuum has been developed for use on a prototype inductive-storage pulsed power generator, Pawn. This vacuum flashover switch isolates the high-pressure-gas tamped wire fuse from a second opening switch. The switch consists of an insulating ring sandwiched between electrodes. Plasma and ultraviolet light from eight small spark discharges driven by a 5 keV pulse initiate a flashover across the switch insulator. The entire triggering unit resides inside one of Pawn's metallic conductors. The switch can be triggered after holding off voltage for {congruent}15 {mu}s. Normally, switch closure occurs at 22--45 kV. Time to closure at a voltage of {congruent}30 kV is {congruent}320 ns, with a typical jitter of {plus minus}50 ns. Peak current is typically {congruent}1 MA. Current density in the switch is approximately 25 kA/cm{sup 2}. The average risetime of the fuse output current pulse can be varied by a factor of 2 by triggering the switch at different closing voltages.
- OSTI ID:
- 5167362
- Journal Information:
- Review of Scientific Instruments; (United States), Vol. 62:11; ISSN 0034-6748
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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