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Experimental And Analytical Study Of Laser-triggering In The Rimfire Switch [Book Chapter]

Conference · · Eighth IEEE International Conference on Pulsed Power
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Tetra Corp., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
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The Rimfire multi-stage gas switch is a low-jitter switch that was developed to meet high-voltage and low-jitter requirements for the PBFA-2 pulsed power accelerator. The first stage is laser-triggered. Streak and framing camera data have been collected to determine the closure time, jitter, and optimum parameters for laser triggering. Three phases of closure are observed: (1) fast discharge phase, (2) channel heating phase, and (3) current conduction phase. Gap closure time and jitter are measured as a function of voltage laser energy, and focal position. A computer model has been developed with sufficient physics detail to provide good agreement with these data. SF6 Boltzmann kinetics, multi-photon laser ionization, and photodetachment are included. The photodetachment rate is shown to be a critical parameter in determining the minimum trigger energy for an undervolted SF6 gap. The model gives good agreement with experimental closure times and minimum laser energy requirements.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5680155
Report Number(s):
SAND--90-3020C; CONF-910640--25; ON: DE91014662; ISBN: 0-7803-0177-3
Journal Information:
Eighth IEEE International Conference on Pulsed Power, Journal Name: Eighth IEEE International Conference on Pulsed Power
Publisher:
IEEE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (8)

An empirical formula for gas switch breakdown delay conference January 1989
Properties of streamers and streamer channels inSF6 journal February 1987
Modeling a KrF Laser-Triggered SF/sub 6/ Spark Gap conference January 1991
An air breakdown kinetic model journal August 1991
The laser triggering of high-voltage switches journal August 1978
Interstage closure times for the rimfire multistage gas switch conference June 1989
KrF Laser-Triggered SF6 Spark Gap for Low Jitter Timing journal January 1980
Laser triggering of a 500‐kV gas‐filled switch: A parametric study journal September 1984

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Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426000* -- Engineering-- Components
Electron Devices & Circuits-- (1990-)
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
430303 -- Particle Accelerators-- Experimental Facilities & Equipment
ACCELERATORS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
DESIGN
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EQUIPMENT
EXCIMER LASERS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GAS LASERS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IONIZATION
KRYPTON FLUORIDE LASERS
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHOTOIONIZATION
PLASMA SWITCHES
PULSE CIRCUITS
RADIATIONS
SPARK GAPS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR FLUORIDES
SWITCHES
TESTING
TRIGGER CIRCUITS