High current back lighted thyratron switch

Journal Article · Mon Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Applied Physics Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.106698· OSTI ID:5412267

Kirkman-Amemiya, G ^[1]; Gundersen, M A ^[2]

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1. Integrated Applied Physics, Inc., 50 Thayer Road, Waltham, Massachusetts 02154 (United States)
2. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0484 (United States)

High current operation of the back lighted thyratron, an optically triggered, low pressure diffuse discharge closing switch that operates with a self heated, super-emissive cathode, is reported. Repetitive operation at 5 Hz, 17.5 kV, 60 kA, with 500 ns pulse length has been achieved. The switch exhibits no high current limit up to 82 kA. High {ital dI}/{ital dt}{gt}10{sup 11} A/s and {lt}45 ns rise times have been obtained. The high current and short rise time capabilities make this switch a possible replacement for spark gaps and multiple parallel thyratron switches in accelerator and laser applications.

• OSTI ID: 5412267
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters; (United States) Vol. 60:3; ISSN APPLA; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002 -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
430300* -- Particle Accelerators-- Auxiliaries & Components
DESIGN
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRON TUBES
EQUIPMENT
GAS DISCHARGE TUBES
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA SWITCHES
SWITCHES
THYRATRONS