UV-laser-triggered switches

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6226357

Woodworth, J R; Frost, C A; Green, T A

Two techniques of UV laser triggering for high voltage spark gaps have been developed in which a KrF laser (248nm) is used to create an ionized channel through the dielectric gas in the spark gap. First, with a low-divergence KrF laser, we have studied laser induced breakdown in SF/sub 6/ and have applied this phenomenon to trigger a 0.5-MV spark gap. Second, we have studied the use of additives to the usual dielectric gas, such as Tripropylamine, which undergo 2-step ionization in a KrF laser field, and determined that they allow nanosecond-jitter laser triggering even with the use of a relatively low optical quality beam. Data are presented for a 0.5 MV pulse charged switch triggered with a low divergence KrF laser at 80% of its self-breakdown voltage which demonstrate a 1-sigma jitter of 150 ps.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6226357
• Report Number(s): SAND-81-0695C; CONF-810659-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700203* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Power Supplies
Energy Storage
BREAKDOWN
CONFINEMENT
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GAS LASERS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
KRYPTON COMPOUNDS
KRYPTON FLUORIDES
LASERS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
POWER SUPPLIES
RADIATIONS
RARE GAS COMPOUNDS
SPARK GAPS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR FLUORIDES
SWITCHES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION